Community Tasting Note
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Stoic Warrior wrote:
October 17, 2023 - Upon opening, some bricking noted. Decanted this one hour, but that wasn't really necessary. Nose initially roasted fruits, roses, liquorice and leather. Palate dry and sharp, initially well balanced between acidity, tannins and fruit but over the dinner hour the acidity won out.
This strikes me as a modernised Barolo, a bit lighter, less tannic and more fruit forward than in the past. Sorry, but I prefer traditional Barolo wine making.1 person found this helpful 1,015 views
3 Comments
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Tannatastic commented:
10/22/23, 5:44 AM - I'm not so sure this is a 'modern' style Barolo - Rocche Costamagna use a long maceration on the skins (3 weeks ish ISTR?), although admittedly temperature-controlled to preserve freshness and red fruit, and long ageing in large, neutral Slavonian Oak barrels.
I think the ripe red-fruitedness is as much a function of vintage (2015 was hot), and the MGA - Rocche dell'Annuziata is a La Morra area, and they tend more towards the lighter style of Barolo.
Indeed, the modernists in La Morra who are using French Oak and short macerations tend - for me - towards a 'denser' style (in an attempt to ape the Serralunga denser style).
Ultimately though, Rocche Costamagna are very much a value producer. Their wines, I think, are excellent, but are not particularly profound, but then I'm not paying for that! :-) -
Stoic Warrior commented:
10/23/23, 1:26 AM - Fair points, of course. And looking at your notes I see you are well experienced with Barolos, certainly more so than I, for I have only had a dozen or so Barolos in the last 10 years or so, all in this price range and, from memory, all but one more enjoyable than this one. I also see you are here in the UK, so you will understand when I say that at 30 quid or so from the Wine Society I expected more substance for what for them is the higher end of the "value" spectrum.
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Tannatastic commented:
10/23/23, 8:42 AM - I can mount no defence for the steep rise in prices in Piedmont I'm afraid - the Burgundisation is well under way.
What I would offer though is that Rocche dell'Annuziata is considered one of the Grand Cru MGA's (My memory is not what it could be, but I feel like it was the first to be widely recognised??). As such, it's price is cheaper than many of it's neighbours - Renato Ratti for example, knock one out at 3 times the price (and are a true 'modernist' using French oak barrels).
I know it's perhaps cold comfort, but for it's location it's price bracket is fairly unique.