Winemaker Notes
At once dense and vigorous on the palate, this is the Ceretto family’s singular, flagship Barolo. With a textured mouthfeel and incredibly long finish, the wine’s firm tannins intertwine flawlessly with rich flavors of anis seed, tobacco, chocolate covered cherries and wet flint - a unique combination that is sure to excite, and intrigue, the most staunch Barolo connoisseurs.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Beautifully fragrant on the nose, pink and red floral tones, lots of rose and violet elements with some almond marzipan flecks. Smooth, succulent and supple, this balances density with sleekness, giving firm and slightly meaty tannins that grip and take hold with an overall fresh and streamlined core. Tannins are definitely at the fore, they fill the mouth and leave the powdery sensation on the tongue, while the flavours slowly expand and penetrate around the mouth giving the width and aeration. A slow burner that needs time to settle and show its brilliance, refined, delicate yet concentrated and just so multifaceted. The minerality, strawberry and raspberry, salt, smoke, tobacco, dried herbs and powdery white pepper elements come together so harmoniously. Sharp, sprightly, svetle, sexy, seductive - this has it all! Less than 2,000 bottles produced. First time on the Place de Bordeaux this year. Director Federico Ceretto, oenologist Alessandro Ceretto.
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James Suckling
Lots of fresh roses and dried strawberries. Full-bodied and powerful with lots of tannins, yet they are fine and polished. Excellent length. A classic Barolo with the structure and beautiful freshness you expect for long term aging. Give it at least five to six years to come together.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Ceretto 2019 Barolo Bricco Rocche is made with organic fruit from Castiglione Falletto, one of the villages that performs best, generally speaking, and specifically in this classic vintage. The bouquet is layered and rich with ripe cherry and crème de cassis. There are savory tones of iron ore and grilled herb. It offers a silky mouthfeel with elegant mineral nuances. Overall, this wine shows impeccable precision and beautiful definition. This is one for your cellar.
Rating: 97+ -
Wine Enthusiast
On the nose, this wine exudes notes of black cherry, tea and cedar. The palate is very elegant, showcasing fine tannins and a very pretty and enticing character. The finish reveals earthy and mineral elements, contributing to its classy profile. A wine for the ages. Drink 2026–2046.
"The Langhe hills of Piedmont constitute that area of northern Italy where the wide and flat Pò river valley suddenly disappears and gives way on all sides to hulking and precipitous slopes. The Langhe hills are more than hills. They are ancient and rugged earth. Their narrow peaks are topped by castles, and they are thick to the horizon with grapevines. The Langhe hills are home to a small group of farmers and winemakers who, together, have succeeded in creating some of the planet’s finest expressions of place.
The Ceretto family is among that fortunate group. For three generations members of the Ceretto family have transformed the fruit of the Langhe’s vineyards into wines that speak of the regions identity. The famed Italian gastronome and intellectual Luigi Veronelli wrote, ""The land, the land, the land, the land, always, the land."" This philosophy is central to the Ceretto family. Reverence for this land has passed from Riccardo, who blended fruit from the region’s best vineyards, to Bruno and Marcello, who purchased Langhe vineyards and began bottling single crus, and finally to Alessandro, who is taking the winery into the 21st century by using natural methods to foster vines that are stronger, healthier, and more in balance with their environment. The Ceretto family has always been committed to producing the most expressive and authentic wines their land can yield."
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
