Luciano Sandrone Valmaggiore Nebbiolo d'Alba 2021 750ml

Under Sandrone's management, the site has once again become the flagship vineyard in the Vezza d'Alba commune, in the stunning, densely forested Colline del Roero. With a precipitous 50% gradient in places, Valmaggiore is planted to a very dense 8,000 plants per hectare and the soil here is comprised almost entirely of pure sand from shallow sea and beach deposits, littered with fossilised crustaceans (i.e., chalky sand). This soil gifts a remarkably perfumed and elegant expression of Nebbiolo, completely different from the more powerful style of wine produced in the clay rich soils of Barolo and Barbaresco. The vineyard is farmed meticulously and requires strict sorting to reach the level of purity and intensity we see in the wine today. Fermentation occurs in tank, and the wine matures in old French demi-muids (with 9-12 months aging).

The 2021 Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore is a serious, serious wine that needs time in the cellar to be at its best. It shows the lighter style of Nebbiolo from Roero, but with all the elements dialed up. I especially admire its mid-palate depth and overall resonance. Succulent red cherry, white pepper, cedar, mint and orange peel all take shape in this super-expressive Barolo.