Tasting Notes

WA97

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata has developed beautifully since I last tasted it a few years ago. That said, I am amazed how bright and primary the fruit still is. Sweet, perfumed aromatics lead to a core of silky fruit as this elegant, pedigreed Barolo emerges from the glass. The tannins are exceptionally refined all the way through to the finish, while the French oak is virtually imperceptible. What remains is a gorgeous, fruit-driven Barolo that captures the essence of the Scavino style at its best. The wine should enjoy a long drinking window to age 25 and quite likely longer. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029. This is a wonderful set of new wines from Enrico Scavino and his daughters Enrica and Elisa. The dark, almost impenetrable color of the 1990s is gone and these Barolos now look like Barolos. To be sure, Scavino’s wines are still characterized by a plushness and opulence of fruit that sets them apart. Yet all of these 2006 Barolos reveal exceptional length, beautifully balanced tannins and gorgeous overall harmony. They should be on anyone’s short list of must-have wines. The Barolos are fermented in stainless steel, undergo malolactic fermentation in French oak and are subsequently aged for a year in French oak barrels followed by a second year in cask.

V96

The 2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata is a real head-turner. Silky, round and impeccable in the glass, the 2004 fleshes out with exceptional purity and density. Time in bottle has given the 2004 a bit more volume, but the wine is stunningly beautiful, as it has always been. Rose petals, dark red cherries, mint and sweet spices give the finish its textured, super-expressive feel. Since 1990 the Scavino family has produced a number of stunning wines from this grand cru La Morra site; the 2004 is one of the best.

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