1982 Luciano Sandrone - Barolo

Medium red. Luciano Sandrone's 1982 Barolo captures a turning point in the history of Barolo and as such it is a fascinating wine from an academic standpoint, not to mention that it is ridiculously delicious to drink! Though not labeled Cannubi Boschis, the fruit for this wine comes from Sandrone's original plot in that vineyard. It offers the familiar aromas of licorice, tar, roses, and minerals, along with plenty of focused cherry and plum fruit with exceptional length, finesse and balance in an updated style that blends cleaner, purer flavors with a firm, classic structure. This Barolo shows how far ahead of the pack Luciano Sandrone was nearly twenty-five years ago, particularly in his attention to low yields. This wine is labeled as containing 14.5% alcohol, normal by today's standards but practically unheard of at the time. Well-stored bottles should drink well for at least another decade. What I would give for another few bottles of this magical Barolo.