Sandrone Luciano : Le Vigne Sibi et Paucis 2016

Characteristics and tasting advice for Sandrone Luciano’s Vigne Sibi et Paucis 2016

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a bright, light purple hue with violet highlights. The intensity and depth of color reflect the wine’s concentration.

Nose

The bouquet gradually unfolds, revealing aromas of wild cherries and fresh red fruits. Notes of licorice and undergrowth intertwine with distinct floral hints of violet and rose. A mineral component and delicate spicy nuances complete this complex aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack reveals sweet, voluptuous tannins, remarkably well integrated despite their dominant presence. The structure is both powerful and elegant, driven by outstanding red and black fruit. Finely chiseled acidity brings balance and freshness. Notes of black pepper, licorice, and dried herbs enrich the mid-palate. The extraordinarily long, mineral finish lingers with cherry notes lifted by balanced acidity.

Food and wine pairings

This Barolo pairs beautifully with roast venison with wild mushrooms, veal stew with red wine and black truffle, or osso buco alla milanese.

Service and cellaring

Le Vigne Sibi et Paucis 2016 benefits from decanting to fully reveal its complexity. It is best served at a temperature of 16 to 18°C (60–64°F). This wine can be enjoyed from around 2029 to 2047.

A Barolo born of Piedmontese expertise in selecting exceptional plots

The estate

Founded in 1978 by Luciano Sandrone in Piedmont, this family estate spans 27 hectares of vineyards across Barolo, Serralunga, Castiglione Falletto, Novello, and Roero. Without a family winemaking tradition, Luciano Sandrone established himself from the 1980s as a leading ambassador of Barolo. Since his passing in January 2023, Barbara, Luca, Mariuccia, Alessia, and Stefano have carried on his legacy. The estate cultivates nebbiolo, dolcetto, and barbera using a natural approach focused on agronomy, producing Piedmont wines with intense fruit and remarkably pure tannins.

The vineyard

Le Vigne Sibi et Paucis illustrates the art of selecting four terroirs within Barolo. The grapes come from Vignane in Barolo, Villero in Castiglione Falletto, Merli in Novello, and Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba. This mosaic of plots expresses the richness and diversity of the appellation’s soils, each vineyard contributing its own signature to the final blend.

The vintage

The year 2016 began with a mild, dry winter. Spring was cool and wet in April and May, followed by an uneven summer that delayed véraison. September and October offered excellent conditions, with warm days and cool nights favoring optimal ripening.

Winemaking and aging

Harvest took place from October 2 to 22, 2016, allowing for the picking of grapes of remarkable quality. Le Vigne Sibi et Paucis 2016 was vinified according to the estate’s principles, with spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts in open steel vats. Malolactic fermentation and aging took place in 500-liter French oak barrels. This Sibi et Paucis cuvée benefited from an additional six years of aging in the estate’s cellars after its initial release in September 2020, totaling 24 months in barrel followed by 120 months in bottle.

Grape variety

100% nebbiolo.