Albino Rocca

What the critics are saying:

“….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.” 
Goument Traveller Wine: Imports To Watch, Nick Stock

“His wines are elegant and modern, full of intensity and long-lived. The Barbaresco of the Brich Ronchi and Vigneto Loreto are particulary impressive."
Cernilli & Sabellico, The New Italy

"Angelo Rocca has become a central figure in the Barbaresco landscape. His welcoming estate produces some of the top wines in this prestigious appellation." Decanter Magazine

It’s easy to forget that Nebbiolo, produced from great sites and mature vines, from certain vintages and in the right hands, can be a wickedly seductive wine to drink young. The late Angelo Rocca was a master at reminding us of this fact. His wines – and now those of this daughters – are plump, textural, seductive Barbaresco’s that are surprisingly forward yet clearly have the stuffing to age. All are from estate vineyards and all are grown 100 per cent within the boundaries of the Barbaresco region. 

When Angelo Rocca tragically passed away last year in a light plane accident, Barbaresco lost one of its most distinguished growers. It also lost a wonderful person and a deeply respected member of the Piemontese community. Rocca was a grower operating at the peak of his powers and producing the most exciting, terroir-intense wines of his career. His three daughters (Daniela, Monica and Paola) along with Angelo’s cellarmaster (and son in law) Carlo are determined to continue this legacy and so far they have not missed a beat. 
 

The Rocca’s efforts to continually improve the quality of all of thier Estate’s wines, has resulted in some smokin' offerings over the last few vintages. Perhaps the most significant change – made some years ago now – has been a move away from barriques and back to large format, neutral oak (the ultimate vessel for Nebbiolo maturation). Today, none of the wines, bar a tiny percentage of the Brich Ronchi, spend any time in barrique and very few of these barrels are new. The wines are still contemporary in the sense that they are ripe, pure and meticulously made, but instead of any distracting new oak character you have solely the wonderful dark cherry, floral and savoury structured personality of Nebbiolo in all its atmospheric glory. Albino Rocca’s are not only outstanding examples of Barbaresco writ large, importantly – from a region that has learnt to charge like the Light Brigade in recent times –  they are  also very fairly priced.