Sandrone Luciano : Aleste 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Sandrone Luciano's Aleste 2021

Tasting

Color

The color reveals an intense, bright ruby hue.

Nose

Deep and complex, the nose opens with aromas of ripe red fruit suggesting cherry and raspberry, alongside woody and mineral notes. Nuances of forest floor and dark spices round out this rich bouquet, while hints of licorice and blue flowers add an extra dimension. With aeration, secondary notes of sandalwood, truffle, and fresh leather gradually emerge.

Palate

On the palate, this wine charms with its robust, concentrated structure, without heaviness. The expression is rich and luxuriant, revealing flavors of red fruit, spices, and woody notes, accompanied by garrigue nuances. The ripe, supple, elegant tannins provide a finely integrated texture that calls for patience to fully reveal itself. The persistent, broad finish unveils notes of graphite and black fruit.

Food and wine pairings

This Barolo pairs beautifully with braised red meats, game in sauce, truffle-based dishes, as well as aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Aleste 2021 deserves decanting for at least two hours before serving to allow its aromas to fully unfold. Serve between 16 and 18°C. This wine offers remarkable aging potential and can be enjoyed until around 2060, with an optimal drinking window opening from 2034.

An exceptional Barolo from the prestigious Cannubi Boschis vineyard

The estate

Founded in 1978 by Luciano Sandrone, a former cellar master turned independent winegrower, the Sandrone Luciano estate has established itself as an essential benchmark in Piedmont. Based in the heart of the village of Barolo, the vineyard spans 27 hectares across the Langhe and the Roero, including the prestigious Cannubi Boschis and Villero plots. Since the founder’s passing in 2024, his daughter Barbara, his brother Luca (oenologist), his wife Mariuccia, and his grandchildren Alessia and Stefano have been carrying on the family legacy. The estate’s distinctive feature lies in its emblematic “Sibi et Paucis” project, keeping certain Barolos an additional ten years in the cellar to fully reveal Nebbiolo’s potential.

The vineyard

The Cannubi Boschis vineyard, located on the Cannubi hill in the village of Barolo, benefits from an ideal southeast-facing exposure. The vines thrive on moderately compact marl soils, characteristic of this exceptional area. This prestigious plot lies in a small natural hollow that promotes morning warmth, creating optimal conditions for Nebbiolo ripening.

The vintage

The winter of 2021 was extremely snowy, with over three meters of snow at high altitude. A warm March was followed by a frost episode in early April that caused only limited damage. Flowering took place in early June. The summer was marked by a hot, dry August that led to beneficial water stress, resulting in small berries and airy clusters offering an excellent juice-to-skin ratio. This generous, broad, rich vintage shows slightly lower acidity than classic years, while being built for long aging.

Winemaking and aging

Winemaking begins with spontaneous fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Maceration takes place in open steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation and aging are carried out in 500-liter French oak barrels. The wine then benefits from 18 months of bottle aging before release. Harvesting took place on October 8.

Grape variety

100% Nebbiolo