2004 Vietti Barolo Rocche
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Tasting notes
The 2004 Barolo Rocche is pure silk on the palate. Like so many 2004 Barolos I have had recently, the Rocche is a bit subdued, but its class is impossible to miss. Sweet floral and spice notes give the 2004 its aromatic lift. This is Rocche at its most classic. I still remember tasting this wine from cask. It was striking back then and is every bit as captivating on this night.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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I have always enjoyed the Vietti wines, but in recent years they have stepped up quality in a remarkable manner. The wines from the 2000s amply prove that the estate is making the best wines it has in its long, storied history. As much as I loved the 1982, 1989, 1996 and other vintages, the 2004 was on another level entirely. I was somewhat surprised by how much the wine had begun to close down since I last tasted it in bottle a few months prior, but all the ingredients for a classic, superb Barolo Rocche were there, from the signature aromatics, to the ripe dark fruit and the finessed tannins. Yet the 2004 revealed an additional level of ripeness and concentration which should allow it to take its rightful place as one of the finest, if not the finest, Barolo Rocche Vietti has ever made.
The 2004 Barolo Rocche has been breathtaking on the two occasions I have tasted if from barrel as it is again today. A deep, intense Barolo, it bursts forth with a compelling array of dark cherries, dried roses, menthol, minerals and spices in an explosive expression of ripe fruit laced with perfumed aromatics. This rich, vibrant Barolo grows in the glass, gaining volume, depth and persistence. Like Viettis's other 2004s, the Rocche is a concentrated, structured wine that will require patience. I have been fortunate to taste many of Vietti's legendary wines from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, but the 2004 Barolo Rocche is in a class of its own. It may turn out to be the finest wine made at this historic property.
The 2004 Barolo Rocche has been breathtaking on the occasions I have tasted it. A deep, intense Barolo, it bursts forth with a compelling array of dark cherries, dried roses, menthol, minerals and spices in an explosive expression of ripe fruit laced with perfumed aromatics. This rich, vibrant Barolo grows in the glass, gaining volume, depth and persistence. Like Viettis’s other 2004s, the Rocche is a concentrated, structured wine that will require patience. I have been fortunate to taste many of Vietti’s legendary wines from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, but the 2004 Barolo Rocche is in a class of its own. It may turn out to be the finest wine made at this historic property. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. Importer: Remy Cointreau USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 424-2204