Sandrone’s 2006 Barolo Le Vigne possesses awesome balance as intricately woven layers of aromas and flavors come together in the glass. The 2006 is an especially powerful Le Vigne boasting a solid core of floral, red fruits supported by firm yet elegant tannins. This, too, shows the considerable drive and focus that is the hallmark of the vintage. The wine’s overall balance is impeccable. Le Vigne is made from parcels in Vignane (Barolo), Conterni and Ceretta (Monforte) and Merli (Novello). The wines are aged separately for a year in 500-liter barrels. The final blend is assembled, after which the wine spends an additional year in oak prior to being bottled. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. 96 points, Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate

In a sense this is Sandrone’s “traditional Barolo” in so far as it is a blend of several small parcels of vines (the sites are listed below). It is the product of four winegrowing areas; all very different in terms of altitude, soil and exposure. All come together in a remarkable synergy to produce this wonderful Barolo. The vineyards are as follows: Vignane (Barolo), Merli (Novello), Conterni (Monforte), Ceretta (Monforte). As the notes below indicate, the 2006 Le Vigne is a blinder.