Paolo Scavino - Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Barolo Riserva 2013
Wine Advocate: 97 Points
The 2013 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva was released in January of 2019, and once again it looks to be a top prize. Licorice and flowers dominate the bouquet, and its beautiful red fruit is generous throughout. This wine has always been a beauty and consistently has had a high price tag to reflect that quality, going back to the first vintages of the 1990s. It has regularly sold for about $200 every year for the last decade. These vines are old, some of them very old (reaching the ripe age of 60 years old in 1990s, when many of them were replanted with carefully selected clones), producing an elegance and concentration that brings intensity and a high standard of aromas. This Barolo without a doubt shows its pedigree and a quality of noble perfumes that demonstrate characteristics of the greatest Nebbiolo vintages, all delivered with excellent concentration. The magic lingers on the palate, right up to the finish.
James Suckling: 95 Points
Aromas of white truffles and dried red cherries here with an earthy nuance that makes for a complex and compelling nose. The palate has a deep and dense shape and delivers a wide array of rich cherry and plum flavors. Some handy spice here, too.
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
This is high-strung and linear, showing precision to its cherry, strawberry, graphite, tobacco and grassy aromas and flavors. Firms up, yet exhibits finesse and complexity on the lingering aftertaste. Still needs time in the bottle, or decant a few hours before enjoying.
Wine Enthusiast: 94 Points
Violet, iris, exotic spice and menthol aromas lead the way on this fragrant red. The firmly structured palate boasts elegance and tension, delivering cranberry, pomegranate, licorice and white pepper set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. It's still youthfully austere and will be even better after several more years of aging.
Vinous Media: 93 Points
The 2013 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata is powerful and dense in the glass. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2013 is going to need a few years to soften. When I think of Rocche dell'Annunziata, I think of Barolos built on perfume and elegance. I don't see much of that here, at least in the early going. This is an especially extracted style. Hints of red plum, mocha, wild flowers and spice add nuance over time, but the 2013 is not ready yet to show all of its cards.
