Bruno Rocca Barbaresco 2022

Critical Acclaim: 92 pts Vinous; 91 pts Tasting Panel.

About the Winery:  The Rocca family’s roots in Barbaresco date back to 1834, with 19th-century notary documents identifying ancestor Francesco Rocca as “a farmer born and living in Barbaresco.” By the mid-1800s, the family co-owned houses, vineyards, and slopes within the township.

In 1958, the family’s story became closely tied to Rabajà, one of Barbaresco’s most celebrated crus, when Francesco Rocca moved from the center of Barbaresco to the southern edge of the vineyard. Long recognized for producing exceptional Nebbiolo, Rabajà has been prized for generations.

In 1978, Francesco Bruno “Bruno” Rocca began bottling wines under the family name, transforming the estate’s direction. He modernized the vineyards and cellar while shifting the focus from quantity to quality, creating expressive, terroir-driven wines that showcase the distinctive character of Rabajà.

By the 1990s, Bruno Rocca had earned international recognition and expanded beyond Barbaresco, adding vineyards for Langhe Nebbiolo, Barbera d’Alba, Dolcetto, and Chardonnay. Today, Bruno’s children, Luisa and Francesco, work alongside him, continuing the family’s commitment to their land, their vines, and wines shaped by the balance between nature and human craft.

Tasting Notes: "The 2022 Barbaresco is fabulous. Aromatic and pliant, with superb depth, the 2022 is total seduction. Raspberry, blood orange, chalk, mint and white pepper are all beautifully lifted. This mid-weight, expressive Barbaresco is flat-out delicious. The straight Barbaresco was made from the less well-exposed parcels, which was definitely a benefit in 2022. This is a terrific success." -Vinous.

"The 2022 Barbaresco is a very fine wine at this level. Sensual and inviting, the 2022 is wonderfully alluring. Dark red cherry, pomegranate, spice, leather and blood orange abound. Pretty floral overtones extend the finish effortlessly. Vineyard sites are Currà, Fausoni, Marcorino and a fourth site near the winery on the opposite side of Rabajà. I imagine the vineyard designates will surpass this in time, but today, for the sheer pleasure of it, the straight Barbaresco is superb. The blending of sites can't be underestimated, especially in challenging years." -Tasting Panel.

Varietal: Nebbiolo.