Resilience.

That is the word that best defines Vite Talin, one of Sandrone’s interpretations of Nebbiolo, seven years after the first bottle was released on the market.

Vite Talin is a plant which always shows itself at its best: even under adverse conditions, its grapes shine brighter than their territory. As compared to the traditional Nebbiolo vine plant, both the clusters and the single grapes are reduced in size. They are also very pruinose and intensely coloured.

The green part of the plant is similarly contained, with discontinuous, indented, rough and thick leaves.

The growing season.

2020 will be recalled as a year of long alternating periods of warm and cold weather, both of which have shaped the properties of the wine. The year began with a mild and rather dry winter with few really cold days. Whilst January was mostly sunny, mid-February saw the advent of some snow and rainfall. By mid-March, the weather had turned unusually warm and dry for the region.

The second half of March brought another spell of cold weather which caused plant growth to slow down, allowing us to get back on schedule with the work in the vineyards. In April, and throughout the rest of the growing season, 4-5 days of sun were usually followed by 1-2 days of rain. This ensured optimal water reserves, indispensable for combating the summer heat.

In May, flowering occurred under perfect conditions, guaranteeing excellent fruit development in the following months. At the end of July, a spell of hot weather was mitigated by an alteration of sunny and rainy days, as well as by the water reserves accumulated in spring. September brought fair weather initially but proceeded with a series of storms that cooled down the territory. The weeks to follow were exemplary, with very sunny, warm days and cool and crisp nights: perfect conditions for a gradual and even ripening process.

Ratings for the vintage 2020
James Suckling 90 points 
Vinous 98 points
Wines Critic 95 points 

Vite Talin 2020 – elegance and resilience

Dark, deep and layered, the 2020 Vite Talin perfectly exhibits the particularities of this clone of a virused vine that Luciano discovered in a vineyard 40-some years ago and made into one of his life’s projects. The Talin clone’s tiny berries and deeply colored fruit result in a wine of power and deep color, balanced by a different winemaking approach that helps soften this clone’s forbidding tannins and structure.

The Vite Talin clone’s tiny berries and deeply colored fruit result in a wine of power and deep color, balanced by a different winemaking approach that helps soften this clone’s forbidding tannins and structure.

On the nose, the wine shows meaty deep black fruit, with sottobosco notes. The extra year of aging in large barrels gives subtle notes of oak that gives form to the structure. The finish is long and ripe, with sweet tannins and mineral notes.

A bit of time and patience will be required to allow the wine to reach its top quality, even though one can already taste the remarkable harmony conferred to it by its vintage.

In the next 10-15 years, the wine will gradually improve before finally reaching the peak of its excellence.

Harvest: October 12th

Vineyards in the commune of Barolo: Le Coste, Drucà and Rivassi

Alcohol content: 15%

Recommended drinking time: 2030 – 2055