2006 Barbaresco Rabaja
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Tasting notes
Good medium red. Complex, highly perfumed nose combines cherry liqueur, dried rose, camphor and wild herbs. This very ripe, broad wine has a texture of liquid silk, but also plenty of tannic structure to support the flavors of raspberry, red cherry and rose petal. Finishes with a suave dusting of tannins and lovely finesse. Really resounds on the juicy, sweet aftertaste. A very classy wine with energy that comes from limestone.
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2006 Barbaresco Rabajà is a decidedly approachable, medium-bodied version of this wine. Sweet roses, raspberries and spices emerge from the Rabajà but the sheer muscle and layered quality that informs the finest vintages seems missing. Still, this is a very pretty, harmonious if delicate, Rabajà relative to the finest vintages.
The 2006 Barbaresco Rabaja is a decidedly approachable, medium-bodied version of this wine. Sweet roses, raspberries and spices emerge from the Rabaja but the sheer muscle and layered quality that informs the finest vintages seems missing. Still, this is a very pretty, harmonious, if delicate, Rabaja relative to the finest vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. I was delighted with the wines I tasted this year from Bruno Rocca, who remains one of the most forward-thinking growers in Barbaresco. In addition to these fine 2006s, Rocca has a fascinating set of 2007s waiting in the wings. Rocca's winery sits atop the heart of the Rabaja vineyard, a parcel that is easily one of Italy's greatest grand cru vineyards. Rocca aims to make wines that can be enjoyed with a minimum of cellaring and I would say he did just that with his 2006s. Importers: Trilussa Wine Company, Greenbrae CA; tel. (415) 499-8466; Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530-4021
Highly perfumed with all that is classic nebbiolo – tea and roses and the beginings of undergrowth and truffle but silll with fine and contentrated red fuit. On the palate, quite spicy and the 14% alcohol shows in some heat on the palate. Tannins and alcohol seem harsh at the moment. But this is far far too young. (JH)