2019 Barolo Vite Talin
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Tasting notes
Barolo. MGA Cannubi Boschis. Seriously dark ruby with narrow orange rim. Already a little developed but there is real complexity. Meaty cherry with a hint of plum and just a suggestion of oak like a touch of cigar box and tobacco leaf. The palate is surprisingly closed compared with the nose but with real depth of fruit. A full spread on the very end with a rich layer of finely chiselled tannins that still need to settle. Plenty of depth. (WS)
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Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
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The 2019 Barolo Vite Talin is made from a single clonal selection that Luciano Sandrone identified in the vineyard of Le Coste in 1987, while he was working at Marchesi di Barolo. They have continued to propagate the clone and created this bottling beginning with the 2013 vintage. The wine sees extended aging before release, with three years in various-sized French oak and an additional three years in bottle. In the glass, it’s richly layered and savory, with deep spice, sanguine richness, smoked meat, and black cherries. It’s full-bodied and has a more ferrous nature, a gripping, gravelly texture, and a long finish. It is unlike any of the wines they produce in the range, and it would be fantastic paired with grilled steak. Drink 2026-2046.
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. I also notice a hint of a leafy vegetable or celery root. This is a 2,500-bottle release.
Barolo. Mid-to-deep ruby. Complex nose in which the first tertiary aromas are mingling with raspberry and minerally saline notes. Touches of undergrowth and cigar box. Surprisingly closed yet polished and suave on the palate. Much more concentrated and firmer than the other Sandrone Barolo offerings. Very long and layered, with an endless wave of sandy tannins. Still much too young. (WS)
About the producer
Luciano Sandrone is a name synonymous with the highest standards of Barolo winemaking. Founded in 1978, this family-owned estate has become a modern icon, earning international acclaim for its meticulous wines and thoughtful, site-driven approach to Nebbiolo.