2001 Barolo Rocche
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The mid to late 1990s were a period of considerable change in Piedmont, as the differences between traditional and more modern-leaning producers were especially marked during this time. Initially quite awkward, the 2001 Barolo Rocche takes a good few hours to come together. Now, fifteen years after the vintage, the track record for the 2001s is not as consistently brilliant as I had hoped. As a group, the wines are maturing faster and more unevenly than some of the surrounding top vintages, such as 1999 and 2004. Vietti’s 2001 Barolo Rocche is a good example of that. I very much like the wine’s demi-glace-like richness, but the bouquet only comes into focus after the wine has been opened for a number of hours. Even so, the 2001 gives the impression it will age faster than the 1999 tasted alongside it. These are pretty small quibbles, though, as all the wines in this flight are truly superb.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2001 Barolo Rocche is a huge wine. The baby fat has dropped off, while the aromatics are just starting to show signs of early tertiary complexity. There is more than enough fruit and sheer density to allow the 2001 to drink well for another 10-15 years. If opened today the wine needs time. Crushed flowers, autumn leaves, spices and tobacco lead to more exotic notes of orange peel, rose petals and pomegranate. There is no question the Rocche is Vietti's grandest of grand crus. This is a dazzling showing.
The 2001 Barolo Rocche is a huge wine. The baby fat has dropped off, while the aromatics are just starting to show signs of early tertiary complexity. There is more than enough fruit and sheer density to allow the 2001 to drink well for another 10-15 years. If opened today the wine needs time. Crushed flowers, autumn leaves, spices and tobacco lead to more exotic notes of orange peel, rose petals and pomegranate. There is no question the Rocche is Vietti’s grandest of grand crus. This is a dazzling showing. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2031. These 2001s were made during a transitionary period in Vietti’s history. I was quite pleased to see the wines show so well after the more mixed 2000s I tasted last year. As good as these 2001s are, it is also pretty clear Vietti has since moved comfortably into the upper echelon of Barolo producers, something that wasn’t the case a decade ago. In a lot of ways, the 2001s are the vintage that marks Vietti’s ascension to superstar status. I remember first tasting these wines when they had been bottled, but weren’t yet released. They were impressive then and they are just as impressive today. Vietti fans might also be interested in a recent vertical of the flagship Villero Riserva, which includes my thoughts on the 2001, and that we recently posted on www.erobertparker.com Importer: Dalla Terra, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 259-5405
I have always enjoyed the Vietti wines, but in recent years they have stepped up quality in a remarkable manner. The wines from the 2000s amply prove that the estate is making the best wines it has in its long, storied history. The 2001 was an adolescent. Sweet, perfumed and layered, it showed remarkable balance and poise, with the greater volume and depth it has acquired in bottle.