Bruno Rocca : Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà from Bruno Rocca

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays an intense garnet hue highlighted by ruby reflections.

Nose

Complex and intense, the nose opens with red fruit notes reminiscent of cherry and raspberry, alongside dried flowers such as rose and violet. Nuances of sweet spices mingle with hints of tobacco, while balsamic and mineral notes add extra depth to the bouquet.

Palate

Powerful and structured, the palate reveals remarkable elegance. Silky, perfectly integrated tannins support great aromatic depth. The balance between acidity and substance is exemplary, leading to a long, persistent finish that attests to the exceptional quality of this wine.

Food and wine pairings

This 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà pairs beautifully with game and roasted red meats. It also elevates truffle-based dishes and matches perfectly with aged cheeses that reveal the full extent of its aromatic complexity.

Serving and cellaring

The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. Decanting for at least one hour before serving will allow the wine to fully reveal its aromatic range. With excellent aging potential, this wine can be cellared until around 2045 and will continue to evolve gracefully for 15 to 20 years, or even longer.

An exceptional Barbaresco Riserva from a prestigious Italian cru

The estate

Founded in 1978 by Bruno Rocca, who decided at that time to vinify his grapes rather than sell them, this family estate in Piedmont builds on the family’s documented presence in Barbaresco since 1834. The decisive acquisition of the prestigious Rabajà cru in 1958 by Francesco Rocca Senior marked the historic turning point for the estate. Now run by Bruno Rocca alongside his children, Francesco and Luisa, the domaine farms around fifteen hectares of vines spread across several Barbaresco crus and appellations of the Langhe. Bruno Rocca’s distinctive philosophy rests on a fundamental conviction: wine primarily expresses its terroir rather than the winemaker’s know-how. This approach translates into environmentally respectful viticulture, spontaneous fermentations with indigenous yeasts, and minimal intervention in the cellar, enabling the wines to regularly earn critical scores between 93 and 95 points.

The vineyard

The Rabajà cru is among the most prestigious in Barbaresco. The vines, often more than 50 to 60 years old for the Riserva, thrive on marl-limestone and sandy soils composed of tuff. Benefiting from an ideal south-west exposure, this exceptional terroir allows nebbiolo to express all its nobility and complexity, giving the wines remarkable depth and outstanding aging capacity.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage in Piedmont was marked by a mild winter followed by a sunny spring that encouraged an early start to the growing cycle. May, cooler and wetter, helped slow ripening and replenish soil water reserves. The hot summer, with temperatures topping 30°C in late July and early August, was fortunately tempered by regular thunderstorms that maintained vine hydration. September and early October brought sunny, mild conditions, allowing for gradual, optimal grape maturation. Despite disruptions linked to the global pandemic, the 2020 vintage proved to be of remarkable quality, producing wines with an intensely fruity profile, round and supple tannins, and perfectly balanced acidity.

Winemaking and aging

Fermentation of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà takes place in stainless-steel tanks with indigenous yeasts, thus respecting the natural expression of the terroir. Extended aging is carried out in French oak barrels, carefully selected for their ability to enhance the wine without masking its character. For this 2020 vintage, Bruno Rocca chose to slightly reduce the time spent aging in wood compared with usual practice, preserving the wine’s exceptional freshness while maintaining its cellaring potential. This approach combines modernity with respect for the terroir, enabling the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà to harmoniously express the power and elegance characteristic of this great cru.

Grape variety

100% nebbiolo