SandroneBarolo Vite Talin

In 1987 Luciano Sandrone, well underway in his nearly half century quest in identifying the greatest plots in Barolo, ventured upon a plot in the Le Coste MeGa of Barolo in the vineyards of Natale Ronzana, nicknamed “Talin.” Luciano noticed a vine of particular character: sparse bunches with smaller-than normal berries and thick, jagged leaves. Naturally intrigued, Luciano harvested 2 kilograms of grapes to make wine in a jar at home. He knew there was something special here and instead of uprooting the plant, decided to spend the next few decades studying it. 

The vines resembled Nebbiolo and through micro-vinifications, Luciano noticed profound varietal character and an excellent balance of acidity. From the late 1980s to the early 1990s, the plant was reproduced via field-grafting across two small, isolated parcels. Its unique set of characteristics carried through and continued experiments in the winery showed consistent results with wines of significant structure. In 2017, with proper DNA testing, further analysis confirmed these vines were in fact Nebbiolo. The path of this special plant was always clear to Luciano. From that moment of curiosity and inspiration 32 years ago, the Sandrone family has now released the second vintage of Vite Talin. 

You'll understand why Luciano is considered one of the greatest producers from Piedmont when tasting this masterpiece. The 2014 growing season began in March with the onset of heavy rainfall and hail storms. Not to be discouraged, Luciano decided to take preventive measures: thinning earlier than usual and on three different occasions, ensuring that each plant carried the correct quantity of grapes. While always respecting the vine, the winery team made timely interventions in the “cluster area” to free the bunches from excessive leaves, which allowed the grapes to benefit from better exposure to sun, light and air. This work is only possible through manual and technical experience, supported by the skill of the winemaker, who must possess the ability to make effective choices for the plants given the climatic conditions.

Vite Talin 2014 produced grapes that could be considered among the finest of the region. Favorable weather conditions in October and the excellent health of the grapes, due to meticulous vineyard management, permitted the winery to harvest towards the end of the month. This allowed for perfect maturation and created the ideal balance inside the grapes, resulting in a wine recognizable for its complexity. In fact, Antonio Galloni states that this stunning Barolo is:

Easily one of the most compelling wines of this tricky year.

Like the 2013, we would lay this beauty down for some time. It has all the classic notes you expect from a great Barolo—rose petal, black cherry, and chocolate with a richness and finish that lasts for minutes.

I tasted this wine last year at Festa del Barolo when Antonio Galloni hosted a remarkable tasting of 2014 Barolos. Without question, Vite Talin 2014 was the standout. Luciano's passion for Nebbiolo shines through and to have this bottle in your cellar would be owning a piece of history.