Readers who have not tasted these wines recently owe it to themselves to do so, as the transformation here of late towards wines of purity and finesse is significant. ANTONIO GALLONI
...there’s much to be said for the attractive willingness of the wines of Albino Rocca; the Barbaresco unmasks the essence of nebbiolo and presents the engaging, elegant and downright feminine side of this much revered grape. In fact, the entire range trades on the same principal; honest, open and delightfully balanced wines, no matter what grape varieties are involved. NICK STOCK, Gourmet Traveller Wine
This is another strong set of Barbarescos from Albino Rocca. ANTONIO GALLONI
I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted on my most recent trip to Barbaresco. Both 2020 and 2021 are terrific vintages with plenty of highlights. Best of all, so many wines remain reasonably priced within the context of today’s market, something that is increasingly evident as wines from other regions become quite pricey. ANTONIO GALLONI
Albino Rocca is a Barbaresco estate whose star continues to rise and 2020 looks to continue that upward swing, The Rocca family has done a fantastic job in continuing to drive improvements in the wines through better farming practices and tweaks in the winery since the passing of the estate's patriarch a little over a decade ago, and yet as the quality has risen dramatically, the pricing surprisingly has not, making these wines an incredibly attractive proposition for those looking to fill their cellars with great Piemontese wines.
What I find so attractive about these wines is the bridging of classicism and modernity. While the winemaking here is traditional, no small oak only large casks, wild ferments and savoury tannins. The overall feeling here is one of openness, purity and pliability with florid aromatics and a richness and succulence to the fruit that's perfectly buttressed by nebbiolo's trademark savoury tannins. What's more, the wines too show their distinctive vineyard imprints across cool and warm vintages, the thread of each site be it Ovello, Ronchi or Montersino always a foundation from which the wines are built. If there was ever a great archetype for the future of Barbaresco, the wines of Albino Rocca might just be the perfect model.
The 2020 vintage represents the second in a trio of great vintages for the region. The wines have traded 2019's nervosity and muscle for ripe pure fruit, juicy acidity and glossy tannins. The best wines, like these from Albino Rocca, carry their vineyard imprints through the flesh and retain wonderful tension and balance. These are wines that are going to be approachable and highly enjoyable early on but with enough structure to cellar longer than say the recent 2018s.
The response from critics to these wines has once again been strong. Galloni is an avid fan of the transformation here and has been glowing in his praise as you can read from his reviews below. Whether you love the perfume and high-toned tension of Montersino or the breadth and power of the famed Ronchi there's something compelling for everyone here.
