2006 Sandrone, Luciano Barolo Cannubi Boschis

The 2006 Barolo Cannubi Boschis is seductive, round and sweet in its ripe dark fruit. The wine continues to gain weight in the glass, showing a level of density that nearly manages to cover the tannins. Floral notes add lift on the finish. This is a powerful, linear Cannubi Boschis with tons of energy and muscle, but it will require quite a bit of patience. Sandrone harvests his three parcels in Cannubi Boschis separately. Vinification takes place in stainless steel. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation and are aged in 500-liter barrels (roughly 20% new) for a year. Once the final blend is assembled, the wine goes back into oak for another year prior to being bottled in the spring. Sandrone is one of the earliest producers to bottle, which he does to preserve as much freshness as possible. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. (Antonio Galloni)

Packing sweet cherry, plum and licorice flavors, this red picks up a salty, savory component midpalate. Fresh, bright and harmonious, with a slight chewiness in texture and a lingering mineral aftertaste. Best from 2013 through 2030. 300 cases imported.

Good deep red. Knockout, wonderfully expressive nose combines dark raspberry, musky coffee, mocha and underbrush. Big, rich, powerful and classically dry, with a strong brown spice component currently dominating the mouth. But this is utterly spherical and seamless from day one. The extremely long finish dusts the palate with fine tannins. A rather elegant and silky wine that nonetheless displays the power of this vintage.

– vinous.com, November 2009