Vinous (96)

The 2014 Barolo Le Vigne once again shows the wisdom of blending fruit from different sites. If there is a vintage where blending has the potential to be the difference-maker, 2014 is it. So it is hardly surprising to find the 2014 Le Vigne in such great shape. The red cherry jam, mint, cedar and floral notes are all finely sketched. Medium in body and classy, the 2014 is beautifully textured and inviting from start to finish. All the elements are simply in the right place. Vineyard sources are Merli, Vignane, Villero and Baudana.

Vinous (96)

The 2014 Barolo Le Vigne once again shows the wisdom of blending fruit from different sites. If there is a vintage where blending has the potential to be the difference-maker, 2014 is it. So it is hardly surprising to find the 2014 Le Vigne in such great shape. The red cherry jam, mint, cedar and floral notes are all finely sketched. Medium in body and classy, the 2014 is beautifully textured and inviting from start to finish. All the elements are simply in the right place. Vineyard sources are Merli, Vignane, Villero and Baudana.

James Suckling (97)

A tight and focused Le Vigne with strawberry, orange-peel and floral aromas and hints of hazelnuts. Not giving it all now. Full-bodied, very intense and focused. Extremely long and polished, tannic finish. Drink in 2023 or onwards.

Wine Advocate (100)

I absolutely adore this wine on every emotional and intellectual level. I can still taste it today, weeks after my first sampling. The Luciano Sandrone 2016 Barolo Le Vigne is a stirring and profound expression that pulls on your heartstrings. I found it to be unforgettable, quite literally, inspiring one of those celebrated "wow" moments that we wine lovers so desperately seek in bottle after bottle. Le Vigne is a clever blend of fruit from Baudana in Serralunga d'Alba (offering the power), Villero in Castiglione Falletto (shaping the precision), Vignane in Barolo (adding to the purity of the aromas) and Merli in Novello (that helps to flesh out the fruit). This intersection of various vineyards spanning the appellation creates a pyramid of perfection and beauty. The wine shows large construction, but that fruit weight is balanced against the vivid cherry, spice, aniseed and campfire ash that gently lift from the bouquet.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

Fragrant and delicious, this gorgeous wine opens with inviting aromas of rose, sandalwood, camphor and perfumed berry alongside whiffs of truffle and French oak. The full-bodied palate combines elegance and structure, featuring ripe Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and a dollop of vanilla alongside firm, refined tannins. It's already tempting but hold for more complexity.

Vinous (93)

The 2018 Barolo Le Vigne is a mid-weight, tightly wound wine, with a classic sense of austerity that will need at least a few years in bottle to start softening. Red cherry fruit, white flowers, mint and chalk lend brightness and tension throughout. In 2018, the blend of vineyards is Baudana, Villero, Vignane and Merli.

Vinous (97)

The 2019 Barolo Le Vigne is pure and total seduction. Kirsch, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, cedar, dried herbs and orange peel all grace a Le Vigne built on mid-weight structure and energy. There is a feeling of youthful classicism and austerity that is so beguiling. Readers should plan on being patient, though. The 2019 won't be ready to drink anytime soon, but there is enough fruit to make me think it will be superb, in time.

Wine Advocate (100)

Here it is: the newest creation to emerge from the talented hands of Luciano Sandrone and his family. To be released in 2019, the 2013 Barolo Vite Talin is a wine born from a single vine. They noticed one plant that behaved differently than the others. It produced dark and concentrated fruit. Unlike common Nebbiolo, its leaves showed shallow sinuses between the lobes. Its vigor was different, producing fewer very loose clusters with small berry and seed size. The Sandrone family first noticed this vine in 1987 and named it Talin (a dialect version of the Italian name Natale) after the farmer who originally had the vine. For years, they vinified fruit from this vine separately in order to study its progress. They had a hunch that this mysterious vine was indeed genetically Nebbiolo, and they eventually received confirmation of this from the University of Turin. With this, they earn the right to call this wine Barolo. The massal selection is from Le Coste, and Barolo now results in less than one hectare of vines (6,000 square meters) and less than 2,000 bottles produced per year. This first vintage celebrates the 40th anniversary of the estate (1978-2018). The wine opens to an intense, dark color with extra pulp, power and structure in the mouth. The tannins are soft and rich. The wine is fermented in oak with maceration times that range from 20 to 25 days. It is then aged in tonneaux for two years before going into oval-shaped bottles for another two years before its commercial release. In total, it completes six years of aging at the winery. This is a game changer for the Sandrone family and for Barolo. What I find fascinating is that Barolo Talin takes us away from the discussion of vineyards and crus. It reminds us that the Nebbiolo grape is ultimately what is behind every great Barolo that we love. This wine takes us to the heart of Nebbiolo.

Vinous (93)

Full, bright red. Subdued but deep aromas of smoky red fruits, plum, dried rose, camphor and game; Barolo meets Burgundy. Fat, lush and compellingly sweet; broader and suppler today than Le Vigne, conveying an impression of lower yields. Already shows compelling depth. Here the tannins seem finer and sweeter, or is there simply more powerful buffering material? Lovely finishing flavors of red fruits and spices.

Vinous (95+)

Good bright ruby-red. Deeper but less forthcoming on the nose than Le Vigne, hinting at black cherry, menthol and flowers. Then broader and deeper on the palate, conveying a more classically dry impression than the wonderfully sweet, round 2007. As creamy as this is, it's dominated today by its impression of energy and medicinal black cherry reserve. Most impressive right now on the tightly coiled, rising, electric finish, which unfurls spectacularly as the wine sits in the glass. A great expression of Cannubi terroir.

Vinous (97)

The 2010 Barolo Cannubi Boschis is just starting to show the first signs of aromatic maturity. Dark and dense on the palate, the 2010 remains massively tannic in feel, though. Tasting the 2010 next to the current releases shows the style prevalent at the time that favored more overt fruit, greater extraction and heavier oak signatures. Black cherry, espresso, chocolate, menthol and dried flowers all develop as the 2010 opens up with time in the glass. This is dark, virile and powerful in style; I would wait a few years, as it is going through a phase of closure today.

Vinous (95+)

The 2017 Barolo Baudana is such a gorgeous wine. It, too conveys the power of Serralunga, but with a bit less heft than is typically the case. Sweet dark cherry, iron, cedar, rose petal, mint and white pepper give the 2017 its effusive, inviting personality. This is such a tremendous showing.

Vinous (96)

The 2019 Barolo Baudana is absolutely captivating. Effusive and bright in the glass, with tons of freshness and remarkable fruit purity, the Baudana offers up generous dark red fruit, spice, leather, kirsch, hard candy, cedar, tobacco and underbrush. There's terrific depth here and exceptional balance, too. Rose petal, white pepper and chalk lift the high-toned, intensely saline finish.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Perfumed berry, pine-forest, rose and menthol aromas mingle together on this fragrant, stunning red. It's classically crafted, full bodied and loaded with finesse, delivering juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, mint and star anise set against taut refined tannins. It's nicely balanced, with bright acidity and youthful tension. Drink 2022–2031.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Rocche Rivera is a 2.5-hectare parcel inside the Scarrone cru located in Castiglione Falletto with sandy calcareous soils. The celebrated Rocche di Castiglione is located adjacent, and the Pira cru is directly above. Rocche Rivera enjoys an ideal position in one of the best-performing areas of the appellation in this classic vintage. The Figli Luigi Oddero 2016 Barolo Rocche Rivera is stunning, with a level of harmony and purity that makes an immediate and lasting impact. The wine shows pristine fruit aromas backed by wild rose, tar, ash and blood orange. Those aromas hang in perfect balance. The wine is firmly compact and solid in terms of mouthfeel, requiring a few extra years of cellar time to fully unwind. This beautiful 6,000-bottle release will hit the market in October 2020.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

For all who criticized the 2014 vintage across the board, this is a great counterpoint. Opening with enticing scents of new leather, rose, camphor and perfumed berry, it's a textbook Serralunga Barolo. The chiseled palate is radiant, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, spiced cranberry and licorice while firm, fine-grained tannins provide taut support. Bright acidity keeps it racy, focused and balanced. It beautifully proves that even in challenging vintages, great producers can make great wines.

Richly layered and opulent, the Luigi Pira Barolo Cannubi 2018 promises a sensorial experience of remarkable complexity. Born in the heart of Italy's prestigious Barolo appellation, this ruby-hued divine vintage echoes the meticulous craftsmanship of celebrated viticulturist, Luigi Pira. Through unmistakable Nebbiolo grapes, it encaptures a unique dimension of fruit concentration. Its characteristically seamless texture reveals a skilful ageing of 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels, bestowing harmonious notes of sweet spices, ripe blackberries, and a hint of silky cocoa.

An embodiment of Luigi Pira's commitment to traditional winemaking, this wine mirrors the delicate nuances of the Cannubi terroir highlighted by the warm 2018 vintage. The Luigi Pira Barolo Cannubi 2018 boasts an impressive harmony between firm tannins and vibrant acidity, culminating in a luscious, persistent finish. An equisite testament to the time-honoured Barolo lineage, this wine promises a sublime insight into Italy's iconic viticultural heritage.

Vinous (92)

The 2015 Barolo Brunate is powerful, dense and tightly wound. That should not be much of an issue, as the 2015 will be released later than normal, a path Marcarini will take gradually over the next few years with the goal of releasing the wine two years later than they had previously. Dark and hulking in the glass, the 2015 is clearly not in the mood to show all of its cards today. Iron, smoke, menthol, game, dried rose petal and soil tones give the Brunate its brooding, inward personality.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

The 2020 Barolo, which I tasted last year as well, is a medium red/orange color, and it’s developed wonderfully with another year in bottle. It offers notes of preserved cranberry, toasted spice, fresh leather, bergamot, and cardamom. The palate is fantastic, with a more linear feel, refined tannins, an elegant and rounded mid-palate, and a more mineral-inflected finish. It’s long on the palate and is starting to show the vintage's potential. Drink 2025-2045.

Wine Spectator (95)

A stream of pure, juicy cherry fruit is at the heart of this red, along with mineral, tobacco and wild herb notes. Firm and tightly wound, with a matrix of dense, refined tannins for support. All the elements are in the right proportions, this just needs time. Best from 2023 through 2045. 5,800 cases made, 2,100 cases imported.

Decanter (94)

While at the village level in 2018 we seem to find more dilute wines, Massolino should be considered an exception because they produced just a village Barolo, a blend of all their MGAs, including Vigna Rionda. The wine shines for its bright ruby colour, meaty and tarry with a incredible depth of rhubarb and minerality. Open-knit with its wild strawberry and cherry fruits, it flows on the velvety palate, lean yet refined, with polished tannins and brilliant integrated acidity. The finish is all cherry kernel and liquorice root. With this 2018 the estate confirms its consistency.

Wine Advocate (94)

In the light cream-colored label, the 2019 Barolo is elegant and contained, showing a very focused and linear style that makes a great impression and awakens the senses. There is wild cherry, blue flower and crushes stone backed by balanced freshness and tannins. The wine ages in large Slavonian oak casks for 30 months, and 85,000 bottles were released.

Wine Spectator (96)

This is smoky, with tobacco- and mineral-tinged cherry and strawberry flavors. Quickly gives way to firm, mouthcoating tannins, yet finds equilibrium overall, lingering well. Best from 2019 through 2035. 150 cases imported. -BS

Wine Advocate (94)

The 2015 Barolo Margheria is the first single-vinyard Barolo I tasted from Massolino in a lineup that started with the most delicate wine and ended with the most powerful expression. Considering that we are talking about Serralunga d'Alba (the township known for the most powerful Baroli overall), the word "delicate" should be taken with a grain of salt. The vines here are 37 years old, and the soils are slightly looser and sandier in nature. This wine is just slightly more accessible than the other cru expressions with elegant mineral notes that frame dark fruit, spice and pressed violets. This could be a good pairing opportunity with Florentine tripe in a tomato sauce.

Vinous (95)

The 2017 Barolo Margheria is a compelling, multi-faceted Barolo loaded with personality. Sage, mint, lavender, spice, iron and red/purplish berry fruit grace this firm, classically built Barolo. This translucent, taut Barolo has so much to offer, but it also needs time to soften. Readers will find a terrific example of Margheria.

Vinous (95)

The 2017 Barolo Margheria is a compelling, multi-faceted Barolo loaded with personality. Sage, mint, lavender, spice, iron and red/purplish berry fruit grace this firm, classically built Barolo. This translucent, taut Barolo has so much to offer, but it also needs time to soften. Readers will find a terrific example of Margheria.

Jancis Robinson (17+)

Serralunga d'Alba. Youthful mid ruby. Savoury and minerally cherry fruit on the nose. Compact, sour-cherry palate that is elegant and lively, but still embryonic and with a rich layer of finely woven tannins. Cranberry and sour cherry of great length on the finish. The palate really lulls you into thinking you could approach it now.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2010 Barolo Parussi hits its stride with an amazing bouquet that is as generous as it is complex and compelling. The wine boasts a dark ruby color with delicate amber highlights and shows a deep level of color saturation and richness. Its perfumes are redolent of sweet cherry, black fruit, dark licorice, cigar ash and wet earth. There’s a bright floral note of pressed red rose that lifts delicately as the wine warms in the glass. The meeting of the wine’s acidic component and its tannic firmness is absolutely seamless. Drink: 2017-2030.

Wine Advocate (95)

This wine was not made in 2014, when this vineyard site in Castiglione Falletto was hit by not one but two violent hailstorms. Thankfully, the 2015 Barolo Parussi comes from a trouble-free growing season and has resulted in one of the best expressions of the cru made by Massolino thus far, with the first vintage produced in 2007. This site sees a unique soil profile, with sand that is much richer in organic materials compared to the estate's historic vineyard sites. The terrain enjoys two exposures because the vines are planted over the crest of a hill. Harvest comes later here, as well, because the growing cycle is slower and Parussi is one of the last parcels to show beautiful leaf color in the autumn. Thanks to all those extra variables, the winemaking team has a little more to play with in order to achieve complexity and integration. In our progression from least to most powerful single-vineyard wines tasted, this was the third wine in the lineup. Indeed, this wine offers more "grasso" or body weight and volume. Dark mineral tones make for an elegant finish. However, the tannins are very young and need more time to soften. This is your proverbial cellar wine.