2003 Barolo Rocche

The 2003 Barolo Rocche is made from a combination of the estate's vineyards, and is the only Barolo Rocche dei Manzoni will release in this vintage. It is a stunning, opulent wine, with layers of ripe dark fruit that flow from the glass with notable depth and luxuriousness. It possesses outstanding balance and is one of the highlights of the vintage. Rocche dei Manzoni remains less well known than it deserves to be, so this Barolo will likely fly under the radar. D iscerning consumers, though, will want to give it careful consideration.

The 2003 Barolo Rocche is made from a combination of the estate’s vineyards, and is the only Barolo Rocche dei Manzoni will release in this vintage. It is a stunning, opulent wine, with layers of ripe dark fruit that flow from the glass with notable depth and luxuriousness. It possesses outstanding balance and is one of the highlights of the vintage. Rocche dei Manzoni remains less well known than it deserves to be, so this Barolo will likely fly under the radar. Discerning consumers, though, will want to give it careful consideration. Anticipated maturity: 2011- 2028. Rocche dei Manzoni is an estate whose Barolos I have tended to underrate when young, but then always enjoyed immensely with bottle age. The estate's Barolos are made in a sleek, modern style, with 100% new French oak aging. The wines typically require some bottle age to absorb their oak component. In time, the wines always express the qualities of their respective Monforte terrroirs. I have consistently been thrilled with how vintages like 1978, 1982 and 1989 have developed, and only wish I had a deeper collection of the wines in my cellar. Rodolfo Migliorini is one of the few producers who decided not to bottle his single-vineyard selections in 2003, opting instead for a blend, which has turned out to be one of the highlights of the vintage. Migliorini has told me on several occasions, however, that he considers his 2002 Barolo Rocche (also a blend) to have more potential for development over time because it is a fresher wine. I also include notes on the 2001 Barolos which were completely shut down when I tasted them last year. Lastly, readers should not look past the estate's more accessible wines, the best of which are noteworthy and deserving of close consideration. Rocche dei Manzoni produces one of the best champenoise-style wines in Italy. Importer: Robert Chadderdon Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 332-4999