Sandrone’s layered and polished Barbera is drawn from three sites: Cascina Pe Mol, Ravera and Rocche di San Nicola (in Novello). At between 350-450 metres, these are some of the finest, highest and most exposed vineyards in the region. All of the vineyards of Sandrone are managed organically by the talented Luca Sandrone.

Cascina Pe Mol sits at the top of the ridge leading from Monforte d’Alba to the hamlet of Perno and is among the highest vineyards in the region, and Ravera sits on whitish marls with an easterly exposure, which contributes perfume and aromatic complexity. Rocche di San Nicola is an extremely steep vineyard at the very end of the Novello promontory, its sun-trapping location helping to deliver ripeness and texture to balance Barbera’s natural acidity.

To bring the structure for which this wine is noted, Sandrone mature their Barbera in 500-litre tonneaux, 40% of which are new. The Estate has special, untoasted barrels made (in Burgundy) for this cuvée, to ensure the wood impact is as discreet as possible. Of course, when the wine is young, some wood shows through on the nose, but it is seriously classy oak and there is plenty of fleshy, plummy, fruit to go with it, as well as a twist of anise in play. Overall a beautifully layered and textured Piemontese red.

“Ripeness is pushed to the edge in the 2017 Barbera d’Alba, a wine that very much shows the flamboyance of the year. Super-ripe red cherry, red plum, exotic flowers and sweet spice all race out of the glass in a hedonistic, full-throttle wine loaded with personality. There is zero subtlety here, but the wine is undoubtedly very pretty.” 92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous