Interestingly, we bought a parcel of this wine a little while back and held onto it as we had offered out so many Barolo earlier this year. The opportunity and the allocation were, however, too good to turn down, particularly given the relative scarcity of this great Barolo. Price and quality made a compelling case! Simon's offer, below.
There are close to 200 official subzones within Barolo; a region which could possibly rival Burgundy for sheer complexity. Unofficially, there is also a hierarchy, with famous vineyards like Rocche dell’Annunziata right at the top alongside Monprivato, Brunate and Cannubi Boschis. Such vineyards are akin to the ‘Grand Crus’ of Burgundy. Rocche dell’Annunziata is within the commune of La Morra, lying on a south-west facing slope below the picturesque hilltop town itself. Renato Corino has just a quarter of a hectare of this clay and sand-based vineyard from which he makes less than 300 cases of this extraordinary Barolo.
I first visited Renato back in the early 2000s on the recommendation of a friend. Consequently, his wines became a regular feature in Barolo offers back in the day. I have always found his Rocche to show well at a young age; it always possesses a striking, lifted aromatic and softness of touch on the palate. Despite its finesse, there is a broad swathe of silky-textured, spicy dark red fruits with hints of cocoa and vanillin. The finish reveals an almost creamy nuance still with that lifted, almost floral accent to the fruit. Perhaps it is unsurprising to find such a Barolo impressing so widely in contrast to youthful more assertive styles. I would add that the quality of the 2010 vintage has only magnified its appeal, allowing the wine to be enjoyed in its relative youth. To that end, we have brought forward our suggested range for drinking to highlight that this vintage could be broached in 2016 and yet could age of 15 years or more beyond. I have included Antonio Galloni’s note below for your reference.
2010 Barolo, Rocche dell’Anunziata, Renato Corino
£200 per 6 bottle case in bond
96 points, Antonio Galloni, vinousmedia.com
A big, sweeping wine, Corino's 2010 Barolo Rocche Annunziata bursts from the glass with layers of sweet, intensely perfumed dark red fruit, flowers, mint, licorice and sweet spices. A vivid, striking wine, the 2010 flows across the palate with superb depth and purity. The creamy, textured finish is pure Rocche. This may very well be the finest Rocche Renato Corino has ever made, and that includes the 1990. The young Nebbiolo tannins are there, but they are virtually covered by the richness of the fruit. Drinking 2016 -2030.