Showing the intensity of the vintage and the power of its unique Nebbiolo biotype, the 2019 Vite Talin opens with compelling aromas of forest floor, camphor, new leather, pipe tobacco and ripe dark-skinned fruit. Bold and full-bodied, the firm palate features mature Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, mocha and vanilla supported by tightly wound, close-grained tannins and bright acidity. Still youthfully austere, give the plenty of cellaring. (KO)

The 2019 Barolo Vite Talin is a huge, dense wine. Inky dark fruit, licorice, graphite, mocha and spice stain the palate as this dense, super-concentrated Barolo shows off its notable opulence. Powerful and explosive, with huge tannins and a beautifully sustained finish, the Vite Talin is quite a Barolo. Interestingly, Vite Talin once represented the cutting edge at Sandrone, but now that all the wines have moved toward a style that emphasizes more freshness than in the past, this is starting to feel like an outlier. (AG)

This is a fascinating expression that puts the emphasis on grape instead of terroir. The 2019 Barolo Vite Talin is made with a special clone of Nebbiolo identified by the Sandrone family and farmed for many years on an experimental basis before this wine came into being. Barolo vineyards le Coste, Drucà and Rivassi are featured. The wine ferments in oak and ages in tonneaux for two years, followed by more time in botti and bottle. The 2019 vintage will be remembered for its extra concentration and richness, and you definitely sense that here thanks to the wine's dark, extracted appearance and its intense aromas of dried blackberry, bacon, campfire, barbecue smoke and baked prune. It's less territory-driven for sure, but the wine is especially rich, concentrated and structured. The tannins are tightly coiled and aggressive. I also notice a hint of a leafy vegetable or celery root. This is a 2,500-bottle release. (ML)