2016 Barolo Rocche dell Annunziata

The label depicts an X-ray of a vine with its root system below ground and its tangled growth above the soil line. The Trediberri 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is another beautiful production from this estate that is full of nice surprises. This wine (with fruit from La Morra that rests for 27 months in wood) is silky and smooth, delivering a steady stream of interconnected aromas that fold between dark fruit, spice and smoky asphalt. This vineyard cru is celebrated for its mouthfeel texture, and indeed it is lithe and elegant. These bottles from Trediberri are great for medium or long-term consumption. It's a release of exactly 3,970 lovely examples.

The 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata offers quite a bit of richness and power - perhaps with a bit less of the finesse that is typical of this La Morra cru today, but that should come in time. Black cherry, plum, espresso, hard candy, licorice and dark spice notes build in a Barolo that is at once powerful and yet also sensual. The 2016 finishes with tremendous resonance and plenty of muscle in its big, hefty tannins. It would be nice to see a little more elegance, though. Hopefully that will come with time.