Winemaker Notes
This splendid site in Castiglione Falletto, the fabled "Rocche," gives us a window onto the elegant, feminine side of Barolo. Always the most aromatic and sensual of the crus from Brovia, the Rocche dei Brovia carries its weight with a ballerina-like delicacy on top of tannins that are sweet and silky. A seductress that tempts you to the table with its near-athletic versatility, the Rocche is the one member of this special quartet of crus that will charm you from the outset. The unique qualities of this "cru" result from the sandy soil composition that is in stark contrast to the terrain that underlies its neighboring "crus" in Castiglione Falletto. The Brovia parcel (1.5 hectares) of this vineyard faces southeast and sits at 350 meters altitude. The vines were planted in 1966. The wine ferments for at least 3 weeks and then is racked into large oak barrels of French origin for an aging period of no less than two years before it is bottled (unfiltered).
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A bright and fruity red with dried strawberry, hazelnut and shaved chocolate character. Full and silky textured. Beautiful finish. Better in 2018.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione shows beautiful integration and clarity of aromas. Wild berry and forest floor is followed by spice, leather and a strong mineral characteristic with crushed oyster shell and marine layers at the back. The wine undergoes fermentation in cement vats and is later transferred to large oak casks for aging. The vintage heat has contributed to a soft and more approachable personality overall. But the wine is built to last nonetheless. I tasted through a wonderful selection of new and recent releases from Alex Sanchez that represent the 2011 and 2010 Barolo vintages, respectively. I also had an exciting sneak peek back in time to the 1990 Barolo Rocche dei Brovia that has since morphed into the Barolo Rocche di Castiglione. The big piece of exciting news at Brovia is farming is now all organic. This has been the case since the 2010 vintage.
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Wine Enthusiast
Firmly structured, this opens with scents of dark cherry marinated in spirits, baking spices, forest floor and a balsamic accent. The focused palate offers red berry, dried black cherry, clove, licorice and dried herbs alongside bracing but refined tannins and nervous acidity. Give this time to unwind and blossom. Drink 2018–2026.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2011 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a big step up, offering a beautifully sweet nose of mulled cherries, black licorice, rose petals, and bouquet garni. Incredibly elegant and seamless on the palate, with ripe tannins, it shines for its upfront charm and texture, yet has the balance and class to keep for another 15-20 years.
Attracting the most glory, prestige and fame to the Piedmont region, Nebbiolo in all of its expressions—Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Ghemme and Gattinara—creates a complex wine, truly unique for its delicate qualities combined with strength and a great potential to improve over time.
But Nebbiolo isn’t all there is to red wine from Piedmont! Barbera is the most planted variety and historically most popular as a dependable, food-friendly, everyday wine.
Beyond these two, a surprising number of red varieties call Piedmont their home. Worth a try include Dolcetto for its bold concentration and aromas of spice cake. Other grapes to investigate include Freisa, Croatina, Brachetto, Grignolino and Pelaverga.
TEFBVBR111_2011 Item# 150243