2022 Albino Rocca Ovello Vigna Loreto Barbaresco, Piedmont

The 2022 Barbaresco Ovello Vigna Loreto is powerful and ample, yet also quite translucent. Potent tannins make themselves felt but are beautifully integrated into the wine’s fabric. Blood orange, spice, tobacco, dried flowers and mint are nicely laced together. This is such a classy wine.

94 points Antonio Galloni vinous.com

From the cooler, elevated cru of Ovello in Barbaresco, Albino Rocca crafts Nebbiolo that speaks with both quiet intensity and remarkable finesse. The Rocca family has tended vineyards in this part of Piedmont since the late nineteenth century, and today the estate is guided by a new generation committed to sustainable farming and precise, respectful winemaking. Vigna Loreto sits on limestone and marl rich slopes where cooler exposures shape Barbaresco of aromatic lift, firm structure and exceptional ageing potential.

A beautifully translucent garnet hue glows in the glass. The nose is deeply expressive, revealing layers of rose petal, red cherry and blood orange alongside notes of liquorice root, dried herbs, tea leaf and a subtle mineral earthiness. There is a refined, almost haunting perfume that slowly unfolds with air, inviting patience and attention.

The palate is sculpted and energetic, delivering flavours of cranberry, sour plum and pomegranate framed by tightly woven tannins and vibrant acidity. A stony mineral thread carries through the long finish, joined by hints of tobacco, leather and savoury spice that speak clearly of Ovello’s cooler personality. This Barbaresco is built for the long term, rewarding careful cellaring over twenty years or more as truffle, dried florals and complex tertiary layers develop.

A magnificent companion for deeply flavoured dishes, it shines with braised lamb shoulder, porcini and truffle pasta, roasted duck or aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Albino Rocca Ovello Vigna Loreto Barbaresco captures the noble spirit of Piedmont, a wine for autumn evenings, flickering candlelight and those moments when tradition, place and time come together in unforgettable harmony.