1990 Barolo Rocche

Much the same is true of the 1990 Barolo Rocche, which is very good, but also not quite as memorable as it has been in the recent past.

The 1990 Barolo Rocche is simply breathtaking for its elegance and power. Here, too, the wine has retained terrific freshness in its color, perfume and fruit. The 1990 Barolo Rocche emerges from the glass with stunning purity, depth and richness in a style that perfectly captures the boldness of the vintage. Sweet mentholated notes add complexity on the close. The 1990 is decidedly more powerful than the 1989, and while it may lack that wines silkiness, the 1990 could very last longer based on the sheer muscle of the fruit. Both vintages are awesome, though.

The 1990 Barolo Rocche is simply breathtaking for its elegance and power. Here, too, the wine has retained terrific freshness in its color, perfume and fruit. The 1990 Barolo Rocche emerges from the glass with stunning purity, depth and richness in a style that perfectly captures the boldness of the vintage. Sweet mentholated notes add complexity on the close. The 1990 is decidedly more powerful than the 1989, and while it may lack that wine’s silkiness, the 1990 could last longer based on the sheer muscle of the fruit. Both vintages are awesome, though. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. These two Barolos from Vietti were among the very finest I tasted. Proprietor Alfredo Currado was way ahead of the game 20 years ago, as even today his 1989 and 1990 Barolo Rocche possess a level of freshness and purity matched by few wines. At the time, Currado’s son Luca, who makes the wines today, had just joined the winery although he subsequently left in 1990 for a spell in California and then France. Alfredo Currado made these wines with the help of his daughter and agronomist Aldo Vacca, who has gone on to enjoy a brilliant career at Produttori del Barbaresco. The wines were made with lengthy fermentations and aged in cask. In 1990 Vietti produced 6,450 bottles of Barolo Rocche, while in 1989 production was 5,250 bottles. Today, from the same site Vietti makes closer to 4,000 bottles a further testament to the estate’s continued search for excellence.