Rocche dei Manzoni Barbera d'Alba Superiore Sorito Mosconi 2008

Reviews

RP

"In a region dominated by small artisan producers, Rocche dei Manzoni stands out for its chateaulike elegance and grandeur. The wines reflect the Francophile passion of the late owner, Valentino Migliorini, and his son Rodolfo. Fermentation and maceration last around three weeks, and the Barolos are aged for 30 to 36 months in 100% new oak, with the wines being racked four times a year . . . . I have tended to underrate the estate's Barolos when young but then always enjoyed them immensely with bottle age. I have been consistently 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. Migliorini is among the handful of 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. Last, readers should not look past the estate's more accessible wines, the best of which are noteworthy and deserving of close consideration. These include the Barbera d'Alba Sorito Mosconi, the Quatr Nas, and the Bricco Manzoni. Rocce dei Manzoni produces one of the best champenoise-style wines [in the country], the Valentino Brut Zero."