Sandrone Valmaggiore Nebbiolo D'Alba 2016 Magnum Italien Piemont Rotwein. Luciano Sandrone, einer der Qualitätsfanatiker aus dem Piemont ... seine Weine sind legendär, vor allem der "Le Vigne" und "Canubi Boschis". Der Valmaggiore, der kleine Barolo, kann vorzüglich altern und bringt sehr viel Nebbiolofreude! Aus den Tiefen des Roero stammen die Trauben für den Nebbiolo Valmaggiore, der ein elegantes Spiel zwischen Fruchtaromen und seidigen Tannin bietet. Feine Frucht- und Minzaromen im Nachhall.

The Valmaggiore vineyard in Roero hill on the left bank of the Tanaro river has been pumping out some really impressive fruit lately. The 2015 Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore is a prime example of this site-specific excellence. Nebbiolo from Valmaggiore tends to reveals floral intensity and that's what you pick up here. The bouquet is laced with many small details that keep your attention and form a greater web of nuance and complexity. Violets, wild berries, campfire ash and licorice root are part of this formula. The mouthfeel is consistently linear and tight. The Sandrone family first came to Valmaggiore in 1990. It took them several years to buy up the 28 individual parcels that form the three-hectare holding farmed today.

The amphitheater. The Valmaggiore vineyard in the Roero hills, on the left bank of the Tanaro river, is one of the best historic sources of origin and quality. Already in the nineteenth century, the Nebbiolo grapes grown in this vineyard were so highly regarded that they dictated the price for the entire territory. In the 1990s, the first sight of Valmaggiore was like a bolt of lightning for Luciano, Luca and Barbara: they fell in love at first sight. This was not only for the history and the long viticultural tradition, but also for the particular uniqueness of those sandy soils combined with the microclimate.

All "hand-made". Our Valmaggiore is an amphitheater facing the south, with full exposure to the sun. Here, nature is rich and vigorous. The ground is soft and sandy, the slopes extremely steep. Already in the planting of the vineyard, the respect for nature and traditions were strategic. This respect is present every day: we cultivate by hand, row by row, from bud break to when we harvest the ripest grapes; we make our vineyard a laboratory for healthy and well-cultivated fruit.

The Nebbiolo in Roero. In Roero, a significant historic agricultural richness has been preserved, and not only in viticulture. Here, Nebbiolo is distinguished for its finesse and elegance and we, like those in the past who were also proud and convinced, wish that our Valmaggiore wine expresses all the grace and refinement of Nebbiolo.

About ten producers make wine in the Valmaggiore cru in Roero (many of whom are reviewed here), and these wines get better each year I return to taste them. The 2016 Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore is particularly beautiful, thanks to ideal growing conditions during that year. The Sandrone family counts 3.5 hectares in this location. As an alternative to Barolo, this wine presents a soft and graceful side of Nebbiolo with delicate fruit nuances and distinct mineral etchings. Indeed, the wine is almost salty in taste. The sandy soils of Valmaggiore contribute to shaping the wine's lively ruby appearance and those tangy wild berry aromas. This wine is only aged in neutral oak.

Allergene: Sulfite - Alkoholgehalt: 14 % - Abfüller: Sandrone, Via Pugnane, 4, 12060 Barolo CN, Italien - Einführer: AixVinum, Niklas Kudlek, Vaalser Str. 90 A, 52074 Aachen