Barolo “Vite Talin” DOCG 2019 · in gift box

Az. Agr. Sandrone Luciano | Piedmont
Az. Agr. Sandrone Luciano | Via Pugnane 4 | IT 12060 Barolo

05173919 · 0,75 l · 558,67 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping6 units available
Limitation of 1 articles per customer

There are wines that are the result of lengthy soil and climate research, and there are those that are the result of a sudden discovery – a gift of nature to a winegrower who is humble and attentive enough to see the signs. In 1987, when Luciano Sandrone first harvested grapes from the vineyard of the old Natale – called "Talin" – he noticed a single vine that behaved differently from all the others. Small, gnarled grapes with tiny berries, half the size of normal Nebbiolo, of a deep blue, plum-like colour. Thick-skinned, concentrated, with jagged leaves and compact vegetation. Where other winegrowers would have seen a mistake, Luciano recognised a miracle. He labelled the vine, observed it for years, propagated it through field grafting on different sites and began his experiments – for 25 years until DNA analysis in 2017 confirmed what he had always believed: this was a Nebbiolo clone of exceptional qualitative substance.

Today, just under 2,000 plants of this special vine grow on less than one hectare in the Le Coste and Rivassi crus near Barolo, producing less than 2,000 bottles per year and resulting in a wine that is not defined by the terroir like other Barolo wines, but by the character of the vine itself – a "Super Barolo", as Robert Parker calls it. The vinification requires a completely different approach to regular Nebbiolo: fermentation in 50-hectolitre wooden barrels, 20 to 35 days of maceration depending on the vintage, then two years in French Liters tonnaux (over 50 per cent of them new to do justice to the powerful tannins), followed by a further year in large oval barrels. After three years in wood, the wine rests for a further three years in the bottle before making its debut six years after the harvest – an ageing process that is due to its exceptional structure and concentration.

In the glass, the 2019 presents itself in an intense, almost opaque garnet red colour. The nose is restrained and spicy with aromas of dried flowers, meat, dried cherries, smoke, wild berries, camphor and fresh leather. A hint of truffle, wild herbs and tobacco add complexity to the bouquet. On the palate, Vite Talin reveals all its power: dense and powerful with exceptional extraction, yet at the same time remarkably elegant and refined – the balance between translucent clarity and monumental power that characterises great Barolo. The tannins are grippy, dusty and yet finely honed, the acidity refreshing and lively, the texture velvety and rich. Flavours of marasca cherry, strawberry compote, tobacco and piquant minerality carry the palate, while the final is endlessly long with notes of chocolate, plum and coffee. A Barolo of monumental structure and power, which nevertheless finds balance – drinkable from 2027, but made for decades. Vite Talin is not only Luciano's most eccentric project and his most personal legacy, but also a game changer that leaves the discussion of terroir and cru behind and shows that sometimes nature itself writes the greatest wines. SUPERIORE.DE

"A restrained Barolo that’s dark and spicy, with aromas of dried flowers, meat and dried cherries. The attack is dense, with a full body, thick dusty tannins and zesty, refreshing acidity. It has a huge structure and power that finds balance at the end." James Suckling

"This red reveals the austerity of the vintage, with its linear profile and daunting tannins setting the stage for plum, black cherry, graphite and tar flavors. Dense and with a firm edge, this picks up a hint of chocolate on the finish." Wine Spectator

"This is a fascinating expression that puts the emphasis on grape instead of terroir. The 2019 Barolo Vite Talin is made with a special clone of Nebbiolo identified by the Sandrone family and farmed for many years on an experimental basis before this wine came into being. Barolo vineyards le Coste, Drucà and Rivassi are featured. The wine ferments in oak and ages in tonneaux for two years, followed by more time in botti and bottle. The 2019 vintage will be remembered for its extra concentration and richness, and you definitely sense that here thanks to the wine's dark, extracted appearance and its intense aromas of dried blackberry, bacon, campfire, barbecue smoke and baked prune. It's less territory-driven for sure, but the wine is especially rich, concentrated and structured. The tannins are tightly coiled and aggressive. Needs time." Wine Advocate

"The 2019 Barolo Vite Talin is a huge, dense wine. Inky dark fruit, licorice, graphite, mocha and spice stain the palate as this dense, super-concentrated Barolo shows off its notable opulence. Powerful and explosive, with huge tannins and a beautifully sustained finish, the Vite Talin is quite a Barolo. Interestingly, Vite Talin once represented the cutting edge at Sandrone, but now that all the wines have moved toward a style that emphasizes more freshness than in the past, this is starting to feel like an outlier." Vinous