In the glass, the color is beautiful and brilliant garnet red. The fragrance, rich and complex, begins with floral notes - iris, aromatic herbs and dried hay -, then raspberry and wild strawberry, finally the ethereal spice notes of cinnamon and green peppercorns as well as tobacco. The flavor is rich and decisive, enveloping and warm, with notes that recall the aromas of spices and jams, herbs and tobacco. It is a dense, structured and long-lived wine, yet one of elegant character: the acidity and tannin give balance to the wine and the finish is velvety. Barolo DOCG. 100% Nebbiolo. Spontaneous fermentation from indigenous yeasts. Maceration and alcoholic fermentation in open steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation and ageing in French Oak tonneaux of 500 liters. Aged in bottle for 18 months before release. Vineyard in the village of Barolo: Cannubi Boschis

The Sandrone Barolo Le Vigne 2014 surprises with its intense garnet color, alive and beautiful. As it ages, it will slowly fade in intensity and gain subtle orange-brick hues. The scent, broad and persistent, first shows fruit notes of wild strawberry and raspberry, then floral notes including wild flowers and dried roses. The spice aromas of cinnamon and star anise emerge at the finish. With time we expect secondary and tertiary aromas and flavors to evolve, such as elegant vanilla notes and then dried mushrooms, leather, goudron and, perhaps, truffles. The flavor is rich and intense, with youthful expressiveness in the tannin and acidity. Time will bring greater harmony, resulting in a more complex and balanced wine. 100% Nebbiolo. Spontaneous fermentation from indigenous yeasts. Maceration and fermentation in open steel tanks. Malolactioc fermentation and ageing in French oak barrels of 500 liters. Aged in bottle for 18 months before release. Vineyards in the villages of: Serralunga d'Alba: Baudana Castiglione Falletto: Villero Barolo: Vignane Novello: Merli

The Sandrone family runs an outstanding museum program called Sibi et Paucis. This Latin name translates roughly as “for the few and favoured”. Each year, about 10 to 15% of the production of their Nebbiolo wines (Le Vigne, Aleste and Valmaggiore) is held back in the winery’s underground cellars under optimal aging conditions to provide this producer’s long-term clients with aged-release wines that are closer to maturity. It was Luciano Sandrone’s dream that one day, all his wines would be released only when they were ready to drink. Currently, the Sibi et Paucis wines are re-released six years after the vintage for Valmaggiore and 10 years after the vintage for the Barolos. It is a wonderful initiative, and each release comes with a stamp on the label to differentiate it from the original release. Below are the third-party notes pertaining to the re-released wines, i.e. they are all recent tastings and reviews. Having tasted the wines on more than one occasion, we can say categorically that they are all singing. In what was clearly a challenging year, Sandrone’s outstanding 2014 wines were among the highlights of the vintage (as many of our clients will already attest). Many journalists were quick to dismiss the year given the difficulties of the growing season, yet the best estates far outperformed initial expectations. As a winemaker friend of ours once said: “Time cuts out all the bullshit.” “It’s easy to focus on the great years,” Luciano told us when his 2014s were first released. “But the wines we make from the challenging years bring me the most satisfaction, the ones that make me the proudest.” Only an estate run by a driven perfectionist could reach such heights (the Sandrone family employed 38 people for farming when the average harvest at this time required only 22 pairs of vineyard hands). Waiting for the right moment to harvest, being willing to undertake a strong green harvest, and making a strict selection during the vintage all paid dividends.

Based on Cabernet, Sassicaia is one of the first Italian reds to be made in the image of Bordeaux. In the late 1990s Sassicaia was granted its own DOC, the only wine from a single vineyard to enjoy this privilege.

This Cote Rotie Chateau D'Ampuis 2007 by Guical is made from 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier from 7 exceptional terroirs: Le Clos

Warm, complex, earthy spice tones with a lovely richness. Powerful yet elegant and ageing beautifully.

Château Pavie Decesse is a St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé property in the Côtes sub-district, considered the equal of its illustrious neighbour, Chateau Pavie. The origins of both can be traced back to ancient Roman times. The 3.5ha vineyard, on chalky, limestone and clay soils and contiguous with Pavie, is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Following cold maceration, the Chateau wine is vinified in temperature-controlled oak vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 80% new oak for between 18 and 24 months, depending on vintage character. Production is small, around 650 dozen each year. The hedonistic Pavie Decesse style combines opulent, rich, sensuous textures with minerality, freshness and concentration. Due to its lush style Pavie Decesse drinks well young, yet does develop additional complexity with time in the cellar. Wine quality has been consistently excellent under the ownership, since 1997, of Gerard and Chantal Perse.