The 2004 Barbaresco is a pretty wine with perfumed aromatics and layers of sweet dark fruit. It offers excellent length, elegant tannins and an attractive, accessible personality that captures the essence of the 2004 vintage. Although this Barbaresco doesn’t carry a vineyard designation it is made from the Montersino vineyard just outside Alba. It was aged exclusively in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2016. Rocca is among the producers who has been scaling back the use of small new oak barrels in favor of medium-sized 20 hectoliter casks. His wines today are less explosive, but far more elegant. A Marc de Grazia Selection, various American importers, including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300, Vin Divino, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 334-6700, and Estate Wines, Ltd., San Rafael, CA; tel. (415) 492-9411

Shows beautiful, subtle aromas of blackberry, strawberry and flowers, with coffee. Full and very silky, with lots of fruit and ultrafine tannins. This is balanced and reserved. Beautiful. Best after 2011. 460 cases made, 170 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbaresco Select to Add