2005 Barolo Conca
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Tasting notes
Good full red. Tighter aromas of redcurrant, tobacco, menthol, minerals, eucalyptus and mocha suggest a more powerful wine. Then richer but more tannic in the mouth, with less easy sweetness and obvious fruit showing today than in the basic Marcenasco. More texture and power here, along with a distinct balsamic quality. The dusty tannins build on the resounding finish. Give this a couple years in the cellar before pulling the cork. Conca, which features blue clay soil at the warmer bottom of a south-facing hill, was Pietro's father's original vineyard back in 1965, and was replanted in 1994.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Barolo Conca is a deeply layered, regal wine imbued with tons of elegance and class. Here the fruit tends towards a darker shade of red fruit and the tannins are also a touch firmer than the Marcenasco. The oak is beautifully balanced in this vintage. Sweet menthol, spices and French oak linger on the understated finish. This is a terrific effort from Ratti.
The 2005 Barolo Conca is a deeply layered, regal wine imbued with tons of elegance and class. Here the fruit tends towards a darker shade of red fruit and the tannins are also a touch firmer than the Marcenasco. The oak is beautifully balanced in this vintage. Sweet menthol, spices and French oak linger on the understated finish. This is a terrific effort from Ratti. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. This is a wonderful set of new releases from Renato Ratti, one of Piedmont’s historic names. The 2005s are especially beautiful for their soft, textured fruit and well-integrated French oak, something that hasn’t always been the case in recent vintages. Importer: Dreyfus Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818-0770
Red-ruby. Wild, expressive aromas of coffee, smoke and brown spices. Suave on entry, then more austere and powerful than the "regular" bottling, with perfumed dark fruit flavors complicated by wild herbs, licorice and mint. Finishes with broad, palate-dusting tannins and enticing sweetness.