1996 Barolo Bricco Rocche

This wine exhibits a saturated ruby color with purple nuances. Additionally, it is rich, with lots of extract, tannin, and body. Ceretto's opaque ruby/purple-colored 1996 Barolo Bricco Rocche is sensational stuff. It combines explosive levels of fruit, glycerin, and extract with an uncanny sense of elegance and finesse. There are copious quantities of black cherry fruit, intermixed with raspberries, cedar, spicy oak, licorice, and tar. This terrific, complex, multidimensional Barolo should be at its finest between 2003-2018. Aug 1999, www.robertparker.com

Good full red, the deepest of these '96 Barolos. Superripe, highly aromatic nose combines plum, dark chocolate, mocha, earth and meat; shows a slightly roasted aspect. Very dense and full, with a marzipan sweetness leavened by penetrating acidity. This has chewy extract and superb depth. Finishes with big, rich, chewy tannins and palate-staining, complex flavors of red fruits, torrefaction and earth tones.