This was a very special masterclass presented by Luisa Rocca from the estate during Wine Advocate’s Matter of Taste in Singapore. When the doors opened to the tasting room, the entire room was filled with perfumed air around notes of pine tree forest with thyme and gingerbread, really amazing, no other masterclass wine that afternoon had achieved such aromatic power. This was confirmed in the tasting. This is a highly complex and aromatic wine combined with the famous Barbaressco elegance. A really noteworthy estate.
Tasting Notes
2010 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco, 91 Points
Medium garnet. Nose of rose petals, ginger bread and licorice. Intensely perfumed and very elegant on the palate.
2007 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Maria Adelaide, 96 Points
Medium-dark garnet. Perfumed nose of thyme, mint, pine tree and red fruit, deep and complex. On the palate quite modern/succulent with excellent ripeness and with noticeable but not over the top for my taste as the Nebbiolo grape provides enough structure and acidity. This is medium bodied and very elegant, Burgundian even…
2008 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Maria Adelaide, 95 Points
Medium-dark garnet. Expressive nose of mint, red fruit, spices even with some hints of orange peel and pineapple, really complex. On the palate this is still closed and the tannins need a bit of softening (unlike the 07) but it will be a great Barbaresco. Wait. 94-96
2010 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Coparossa, 95 Points
Medium garnet. Very deep and aromatic nose of thyme, red fruit, leather and even some tangerine scents, really complex. On the palate still quite astringent but ripe. This one needs time till 2018 for sure but will be great. Elegance and aromatic complexity is the hallmark of this producer.
2011 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Coparossa, 91 Points
Medium garnet. Extremely perfumed nose with of ginger bread, lots of musk and flowers, a bit too perfumed for my taste. Soft palate with good balance and drinkability. Needs more time. 91+
2008 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà, 94 Points
Medium-dark garnet. This is much deeper and more structured than the others with distinctive mint, spices and leather aroma. Good ripeness too. An interesting wine due to its aromatic depth and elegance. 94-95
2011 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco Rabajà, 94 Points
Medium garnet. Aromatic nose of licorice, mint, blue fruit, leather, really complex. This one was a surprise in a sense how open and drinkable it was. Great elegance and balance (hallmark of this estate). Medium bodied and good length.
Closing
I am not such a fan of Nebbiolo because more often than not I find the tannins too hard to bear most of the time. The aromatic complexity of Nebbiolo is top class and the fact that there are many single plots like in Burgundy make it a fun and collectible region to explore. I was therefore please to see that this Barbaresco Masterclass from Bruno Rocca had tamer tannins than usually, making them really exciting wines.
Author: Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master