2009 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche DOCG, Piedmont

93 pts - Antonio Galloni

The 2009 Barolo Rocche is the most finessed of these wines from Ratti. Like the other 2009s, it is a fairly big Barolo, but at the same time, the tannins are more polished and silkier than those of the Conca. Sweet floral notes, spices and dried flowers all add intrigue, but at the end of the day, the 2009 Rocche is a wine built on a solid core of fruit supported by remarkably polished tannins that are the hallmark of this great site. There is no question the 2009 Rocche is a big boy. If opened in the near-term, the Rocche needs a few hours to open up, but my instincts are that it will be even better in a few years once the fruit settles down a bit. Last tasted May 2013; Drink now-2027.