The 2005 Barolo Conca is a deeply layered, regal wine imbued with tons of elegance and class. Here the fruit tends towards a darker shade of red fruit and the tannins are also a touch firmer than the Marcenasco. The oak is beautifully balanced in this vintage. Sweet menthol, spices and French oak linger on the understated finish. This is a terrific effort from Ratti. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. This is a wonderful set of new releases from Renato Ratti, one of Piedmont’s historic names. The 2005s are especially beautiful for their soft, textured fruit and well-integrated French oak, something that hasn’t always been the case in recent vintages.Importer: Dreyfus Ashby & Co., New York, NY; tel. (212) 818-0770

Intense aromas of dried flowers and berries. Concentrated and full, with ripe fruit and supervelvety tannins. Long and gorgeous. Best after 2013. 575 cases made, 150 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add

Conca shares the extraordinary intensity demonstrated by Ratti’s Rocche cru, but is also distinguished by a delicate, more feminine side. The wine is beautifully stretched over fine aromas of exotic spice, white chocolate, dried flowers and blackberries. It ends with power and determination but does so in a charming, less overt manner.——M.L.(4/1/2009)—— 91