2001 Rocche dei Manzoni Barolo Vigna Cappella di Santo Stefano

The 2001 Barolo Cappella di Santo Stefano reveals awesome balance as well as elegance in a distinctly more opulent, fruit-driven style than the Vigna d'la Roul. this generous, weighty Barolo needs a few more years of bottle age and should drink well to at least age 20, if not beyond.

The 2001 Barolo Cappella di Santo Stefano reveals awesome balance as well as elegance in a distinctly more opulent, fruit-driven style than the Vigna d’la Roul. This generous, weighty Barolo needs a few more years of bottle age and should drink well to at least age 20, if not beyond. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2022. Rocche dei Manzoni is an estate whose Barolos I have tended to underrate when young, but then always enjoyed immensely with bottle age. The estate's Barolos are made in a sleek, modern style, with 100% new French oak aging. The wines typically require some bottle age to absorb their oak component. In time, the wines always express the qualities of their respective Monforte terrroirs. I have consistently been thrilled with how vintages like 1978, 1982 and 1989 have developed, and only wish I had a deeper collection of the wines in my cellar. Rodolfo Migliorini is one of the few producers who decided not to bottle his single-vineyard selections in 2003, opting instead for a blend, which has turned out to be one of the highlights of the vintage. Migliorini has told me on several occasions, however, that he considers his 2002 Barolo Rocche (also a blend) to have more potential for development over time because it is a fresher wine. I also include notes on the 2001 Barolos which were completely shut down when I tasted them last year. Lastly, readers should not look past the estate's more accessible wines, the best of which are noteworthy and deserving of close consideration. Rocche dei Manzoni produces one of the best champenoise-style wines in Italy. Importer: Robert Chadderdon Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 332-4999

Medium amber-edged red. Complex, pure nose melds red cherry, spices, tar, minerals and nutty oak. Round, lush and rich but uncompromisingly dry; offers a layered texture and considerable volume without any excess weight. A very full, spicy wine whose big, dusty tannins call for a good seven or eight years of patience. This, too, is considerably more primary than the 2000 example.