2016 Albino Rocca Barbaresco Angelo
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Barbaresco Angelo, the estate's top bottling, is a blend of 50% Ronchi, 25% Montersino and 25% Loreto, done entirely in cask. Reticent at first, the 2016 needs several hours of air to start opening up. A super-classic expression of Nebbiolo follows, with hints of menthol, leather, iron, violet spice and licorice that develop later. The 2016 remains a wine of fascinating contrasts. It is at times light on its feet, while at other moments it comes across as much more powerful.
Critic scores
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Crystal-clear purity of fruit with everything ranging from rose petals to strawberries to dried cherries. Elegant and graceful, yet at the same time strong and strapping, this full-bodied Barbaresco zips with agile acidity through muscular tannins and deepness of flavor like a well-built athlete skating on ice. Drink from 2022.
The 2016 Barbaresco Angelo is the most elaborate and oak-forward of the three Barbaresco expressions presented by Albino Rocca this year. The wine opens to dark color saturation with blackberry, dried fruit and plum. You get extra layers of spice, smoke, tar and tilled earth as well. The wine is robust and full-bodied. It deserves to sit next to a nice cut of steak on the grill.
Barbaresco. Tasted blind. Mid ruby. Perfumed and slightly flowery. Elegant and layered palate. Very slow to unfurl and with firm but elegantly built tannins, but they need time. Very long and fragrant finish. (WS)