2008 Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata
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Tasting notes
Dark blackish ruby. Some oak on the nose – doesn’t immediately smell of Barolo! Sweet and polished and super smooth. Extremely flattering but not the purest expression. A winemaker’s wine. Difficult to score because you have to admire the artistry. Depends on your notion of the ideal Barolo… (JR)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Barolo Rocche flows from the glass with layers of silky fruit. Freshly cut flowers, spices and minerals develop in the glass, adding shades of complexity and nuance to the expressive dark red fruits. In 2008 the Rocche is all about finesse and elegance, two qualities the wine has in spades. This refined Barolo should be at its best between 2018 and 2028, give or take. (AG)
The 2008 Barolo Rocche flows from the glass with layers of silky fruit. Freshly cut flowers, spices and minerals develop in the glass, adding shades of complexity and nuance to the expressive dark red fruits. In 2008 the Rocche is all about finesse and elegance, two qualities the wine has in spades. This refined Barolo should be at its best between 2018 and 2028, give or take. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028. This is a beautiful set of 2008s from Pietro Ratti. While his 2007s were quite extroverted, Ratti’s 2008s return to a cool, inward style that is both classic and also typical of the year. Importer: Dreyfus Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818-0770
(from vines planted in 1958 and 1961): Good deep red. Very closed nose hints at chocolate, leather and game; less pristine than the Conca. Bigger and richer but drier and lower-pitched than the Conca, with a strong chocolatey element. This technically has similar acidity to the Conca but it's less apparent today. Like the 2007 version, this finishes broad and velvety, with considerable power.