2017 Bruno Rocca Langhe Nebbiolo Fralu

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 90.1 points

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  4/18/2023 - sleepyhaus wrote:

  Having consumed more of these, I continue to find the oak egregious. I should add that I don't actually taste oak in the wine to an extensive degree that one might find, for instance, in Napa cab or some BDX, but rather it just makes everything very smooth and polished with an overall milkshake effect, the oak smoothing all of the nebbiolo tannin and reducing the perception of acidity, and generally depriving the wine of all of the energy and interest that it might have had. Having tried a few of this producer's wines based on strong recommendations, including from Vinous, I'm done unless/until the oak regime changes. This is a nebbiolo for people who don't really like nebbiolo. A new world cab drinker's nebbiolo, if you will.

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  11/19/2022 - sleepyhaus wrote:

  After a disappointing result recently with a 2018 B. Rocca Barbera, which was egregiously oaked, and knowing that he also uses barrique on this wine (why?), I opened this with some trepidation. As it turns out, there was no need for concern. This is a lovely Nebbiolo. It is not a wine for purists, as the French Oak does smooth out some of the edgier Nebbiolo character, softening the wine a bit, but it is lovely nonetheless. There is good purity to the fruit, with a decidedly floral lilt to the nose and palate. The oak is felt only in the slight softness, the lack of raspy tannin, rather than obscuring the fruit or, as was the case for the Barbera, actually showing any oak notes on the nose or in the mouth. Overall, this is quite nice. My preference remains a traditional approach, botti rather than barrique, but I enjoyed this too, and am happy to have a few more bottles. That said, I'd likely enjoy it just as much or more without the use of barrique.

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  1/16/2022 - Mali Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Feiner Langhe im besten Alter. Bruno Rocca bereitet diesen Weintyp mit einer gewissen Ernsthaftigkeit in der Tanninsruktur, was ihn wie einen kleinen Barbaresco erscheinen lässt. Reife, süße Frucht mit packender Würze. Tolle Gaumenpräsenz, rassige Säureader. Das Holz ist bestens eingearbeitet. Ordentliche Länge. Ein idealtypischer Nebbiolo für kleines Geld. Jetzt bis 2023+

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  12/3/2020 - Sean Tay wrote: 92 Points

  Surprisingly fruity and had a sweet, bubble gum palate, initially thought it was semi carbonic for young drinking. And realise it had been ferment in old French oak and further maturation in bottle. Light ruby in colour. Raspberry, black cherry, high tannin, medium+ acidity, medium+ body and finish.

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  9/21/2020 - iglobetrotter Likes this wine: 91 Points

  One of the best Langhe I ever tried. I guess because of 12-18 months in French barriques

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