The 2012 Barolo Le Vigne, here in a library release, is still a very young wine. Bright acids lift a core of red fruit in a Barolo that impresses with its vibrancy. Spice, blood orange, mint, rose petal and lavender open with a bit of time in the glass. The 2012 showed quite a bit of potential as a young wine, now, that potential is really starting to come through. This is a terrific showing.

The Luciano Sandrone 2012 Barolo le Vigne shows the trademark ripeness that I so often identify in this historic product. The bouquet is round and plush with thick layers of dark cherry marmalade, blackberry preserves and dark currant. Beyond those apparent fruit aromas, Le Vigne offers dark spice and licorice with a beautiful menthol signature on the finish. The wine's natural structure is padded by soft tannins and lush fruit consistency. In all, this important wine is less vibrant and distinctive compared to other excellent vintages such as 2008 and 2010.

More spice and less leafy maturity than the Marcarini La Serra 2012 just tasted. Still with some red fruit on the nose. Bone, bone dry but the tannins are exceptionally fine and there's still a lot of fruit to balance. Terrific wine. (JH)

The grapes come from Ceretta (Monforte d’Alba), Conterni (Monforte d’Alba), Merli (Novello), Vignane (Barolo). A shade deeper than the 2012 Cannubi with the beginning of orange tinges. More savoury and minerally than Cannubi and with a little support of oak on the nose. With aeration lots of fruit. A little finer and more gripping than Cannubi. Long and with plenty of austere cherry fruit. Proper Barolo yet elegant. (WS)