2000 Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata

(malo and aging in all new barriques; from sandy soil, whereas the Conca is based on chalk and rock) Good medium red. Perfumed aromas of red berries, herbs and brown spices. A step up in ripeness and concentration from the Marcenasco and Conca, offering more perfumed inner-mouth flavors of redcurrant, leather, mocha and brown spices. Dense, full and ripe but quite elegantly styled and not at all roasted for the vintage. Finishes with lush tannins and very good length.

Bright, full red. Aromas of smoky, roasted fruits with subtle minerality. Soft, smooth and elegant, with nice sweetness and well-integrated acidity. More complex than the normale, more shapely and aromatic in the mouth. But the tannins come across as a bit tough, currently shortening the wine's fruit.