7.4 Sibi et Paucis

In 2004, with the availability of larger spaces within the company, including some climate-controlled warehouses and, therefore, suitable for preserving bottles of great vintages intended for consumption in subsequent years, a new project finally came to fruition, which had been in development for a few years: "SIBI ET PAUCIS".
There was a general reason that inspired this initiative at Casa Sandrone, rooted in the observation that, by their nature, Piedmontese wines are capable of resisting time and, thanks to this special characteristic, have gradually acquired a privileged role in markets worldwide.
"We too," – Luciano emphasizes – "in our production in the vineyard and cellar, have always interpreted our wines by dedicating particular attention to this natural aptitude. I had already learned this when I worked for Giacomo Borgogno, where care was taken to give Nebbiolo adequate time to find the right harmony. And so, when I was able to have my own cellar where I could interpret Nebbiolo wines according to my convictions, I gradually strengthened this experience. Having received confirmation from our wines of their ability to resist time, I decided to dedicate even more attention to this intrinsic character of our production."
"SIBI ET PAUCIS" (from Latin literally "For us and for few") is the title given to this project of ours," – Barbara Sandrone reminds us – "Marisa Stratta, owner of her communication agency, suggested this title to us. She had drawn it from the writings of Pliny the Younger. What this initiative consists of is easy to say, a bit less so to achieve. Everything depends on the quality and longevity of the wines. In essence, for each vintage, we set aside 10-15% of the production of wines obtained from the Nebbiolo variety, namely the Barolos (Aleste - Cannubi Boschis, Le Vigne, and Vite Talin) and the Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore. It should be said that this is not a special selection wine by wine, but simply the setting aside of a small part of the production of each vintage that will be kept in our cellars, where it finds optimal conditions to rest, refine, and further perfect itself. Each of these lots has the privilege of growing with us in the common home of origin."
But the project doesn't end at the time of setting aside. As time passes, harmony becomes sovereign in each wine. At this point, the bottles return to the world's markets, embellished with a special seal that guarantees their originality and elegance:

• the silver seal is assigned six years after the harvest to the Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore;
• the gold seal is attributed ten years after the harvest to the Barolos (Aleste - Cannubi Boschis, Le Vigne, and Vite Talin).

"We do all this only for us and for a few privileged connoisseurs," – Luciano confirms with pride – "and we do it so that the gratification has no limits and no comparisons."