1999 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Prapò- Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (10/14/2009)
Attractive nose of anise, baking spices, and pungent, perfumey florals. Quite a dose of oak seemed prevalent on the nose when first opened, but blew off after about an hour. Very silky, great acidity, rich spices and a good, grippy mouthfeel (from the acidity more than the tannins, which are very slight, and dusty). The descriptive I came up with while enjoying this wine was ‘regal’. It’s no blockbuster, but it is wonderfully balanced, elegant, yet substantive enough to go with food (grilled cheese (swiss and cheddar) on sprouted wheat), and a finish that is also equally elegant and balanced, and long. I’m VERY pleased to have more of these in my cellar. (92 pts.)
I don’t consider 10 years that long for a Barolo - that seems totally within reason, but honestly, my opinion in this matter is completely worthless. Ask someone like Ken…he’d know.
I would try to hold off on drinking another for at least 5 years. Ceretto wines tend to drink well young, but age well. Last year I had 2 Cerettos from 1971 that were lovely.
Ken – I don’t have much experience with Ceretto’s wines. I’m curious whether you think the winemaking there has changed much over the past 20 years or so. They had a reputation of being in the first generation of modernists, but my vague impression is that they didn’t go to the extremes in oaking, roto-fermenting, etc. that some people did in the 90s and that the approach has been fairly consistent since the 80s. Is that a fair summary?