Winemaker Notes
Barolo's smallest cru, known as Bricco Rocche is located just outside of Castiglione Falletto, wedged between the vineyards of Villero and Rocche di Castiglione at an altitude of approximately 1,200 feet (350–370 meters). Meaning 'peak of the rock,' Bricco Rocche has been an exclusive monopoly almost entirely owned by the Ceretto family since the early 1970s. The inimitable vineyard site has a southeast-to-southwest exposure and is located in the center of the DOCG Barolo. Vines are grown both organically and biodynamically and the soil comprises of Diano sandstone, silt and clay which are collectively known for producing wines of great balance.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This is the grande dame in the Ceretto portfolio. The organic 2021 Barolo Bricco Rocche draws its fruit from one of my favorite slopes in Castiglione Falletto that always delivers extreme sharpness and focus. Indeed, this is one of the smallest MGAs in the appellation (maybe the smallest?), and the Ceretto family has the monopoly. Bricco Rocche sits at 350 to 370 meters in elevation with southeastern and southwestern exposures and a mix of sand, silt and clay soils. The wine opens gracefully to reveal redcurrant, blue flower and crushed stone over a very firm, mid-weight finish fueled by long, silky tannins. A pop of bright acidity seals the deal.
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Decanter
This is really floral on the nose, with blueberries, blackberries and touches of asphalt and cedar. The palate is medium- to full-bodied with blue fruit flavors, sophisticated polished tannins and a clean, linear finish. Already great, but it should evolve nicely over the next couple of years.
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Wine Spectator
Pretty cherry and raspberry fruit leads off, with rose hip, menthol and iron accents filling the spaces. Tightens up on the finish yet remains vibrant and long, with terrific length and a red fruit sequel. Classy and complex. Best from 2028 through 2045.
"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.
