2004 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabaja
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Tasting notes
A dark, dramatic wine, the 2004 Barbaresco Rabajà offers plenty of power, but it is also heavily marked by French oak in both its massive tannins and the early hints of oxidation that have begun to set in. Frankly, I liked this wine more when it was younger.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(the soil in this vineyard is a combination of sand and limestone) Moderately saturated medium red. Reticent but nuanced nose combines dried rose, tobacco, menthol and truffle, with a hint of positive rusticity. Quite suave and fine-grained, with harmonious acidity giving lift and elegance to the cherry and tobacco flavors. The wine's acids carry the fruit, and the tannins reach the teeth. This Barbaresco struck me as being built for a leisurely evolution in the bottle, but Rocca recommends drinking it within eight to ten years. "After that it's a crapshoot," he told me. "It becomes another thing."
The 2004 Barbaresco Rabajà is powerful and brooding. It possesses notable concentration and power, with plenty of spiced fruit, a rich, weighty texture, and a warm, engaging personality.
The 2004 Barbaresco Rabaja is powerful and brooding. It possesses notable concentration and power, with plenty of spiced fruit, a rich, weighty texture, and a warm, engaging personality. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024. Importer: Blavod Extreme, Franklin, TN; tel. (615) 771-9111 and Indigenous Selections, Fort Lauderdale FL; tel. (954) 530-4021