2017 Ronchi Barbaresco DOCG

Aromas of black cherries, licorice, game, light smoke; full-bodied and concentrated yet balanced, with moderate tannins and good length. Great aging potential. PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Grilled red meat; pork sausages; mushroom dishes. The ‘Ronchi’ vineyard, at 960 feet above sea level and facing southeast, runs along the eastern edge of the appellation; the land forms a natural amphitheater. Soils are a classic mix of clay and limestone. AGE OF VINES: 30 to 40 years WINEMAKING: Hand-harvested. Fermentation on indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Aged for two years in large (20HL) Slavonian casks (in Italian, ‘botti’).

The Rocca family’s peerless Nebbiolo wines are still an insider’s secret, representing some of the better values in Barbaresco. This fourthgeneration vine-growing family lives, literally, in the ‘Ronchi’ vineyard— with older vines that wind around the family home and cellars. This petite valley, close to Neive, is charmed: bordered by cru ‘Montestefano’ to the north and ‘Moccagatta’ to the south, it is shaped like a perfect amphitheater, capturing the sun and giving Nebbiolo both the concentration and ripe elegance that is the hallmark of fine Barbaresco

For more than four generations, the Rocca family has lived surrounded by the vines of the ‘Ronchi’ cru in Barbaresco. The vineyards are part of the family; winemaker Giancarlo Rocca can walk from his breakfast table to his Nebbiolo vines in less than a minute. Needless to say all work is performed by hand, and as sustainably as possible. No herbicides or pesticides are used.
Grapes are harvested by hand, destemmed, then fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. Wines are aged, depending on the cru, in either Slavonian oak casks or a combination of French oak barrel and cask. In recent vintages, Giancarlo has been experimenting with aging wines in terracotta amphorae. All wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Estate vineyards are located in a natural amphitheater along the eastern edge of the appellation. Aged for two years in large (20HL) Slavonian “botti.”