# Le Vigne Barolo (1997)

- **Producer:** Luciano Sandrone
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €202
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackberry, cherry, strawberry, peach, mango, rose, violet, vanilla, spice, oak, dried currant, raisin, lead pencil, mineral, tar

## About this wine

Le Vigne Barolo by Luciano Sandrone is a distinguished wine from the 1997 vintage, hailing from the prestigious Barolo DOCG in Piedmont, Italy. The wine is crafted from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, representing Sandrone's philosophy of blending fruit from various vineyard parcels to achieve complexity and harmony. The 1997 growing season was near-perfect, characterized by warm, dry conditions that yielded exceptionally ripe and concentrated grapes, resulting in a powerful and opulent Barolo with remarkable purity and aging potential. Luciano Sandrone himself was a celebrated winemaker known for his dedication to quality and his ability to balance traditional Barolo characteristics with modern winemaking techniques.

## Interesting facts

- The 1997 vintage was considered a 'dream vintage' in Piedmont.
- Le Vigne means 'The Vineyards' in Italian, highlighting its blended nature.
- Sandrone's wines gained significant international attention after high praise from Robert Parker.
- This wine is described as having an 'extraordinary purity and intensity of fruit.'

## Food pairing

The wine's full body, high tannins, and rich fruit profile make it an ideal companion for robust, protein-rich dishes. The tannins bind with proteins in the meat, softening the wine and enhancing its texture. The wine's complexity and earthy notes complement dishes featuring game, mushrooms, and truffles, while its fruit can stand up to rich sauces.

## Wine making process

The 'Le Vigne' Barolo is produced by Luciano Sandrone using a traditional approach focused on vineyard blending. Grapes from multiple parcels are vinified separately before being blended to create a harmonious wine. Fermentation takes place in open-top steel tanks, often with native yeasts. Following fermentation, the wine typically undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for around 24 months in 500-liter French oak casks. This process is designed to showcase the complexity of the Barolo terroir and the characteristics of the Nebbiolo grape.