Bruno Rocca : Rabajà 2018

Characteristics and tasting notes of Barbaresco 2018 Bruno Rocca

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals an intense garnet hue, enhanced by brilliant ruby highlights, offering a particularly clear presentation.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet stands out for its delicacy and freshness. It reveals aromas of red fruits such as raspberry, cherry and wild strawberry, harmoniously blended with floral notes of rose and violet. Subtle mineral touches of limestone, hay and truffle round out this complex whole.

Palate
The attack is elegant and warm, revealing a full-bodied texture. The palate is supported by ripe, refined tannins that are perfectly integrated. A vibrant, refreshing acidity brings remarkable balance, leading to a persistent, structured finish.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine from Italy pairs wonderfully with grilled or braised beef, as well as game such as wild boar, duck or venison. It also enhances traditional white truffle dishes, pasta with rich sauces, and aged cheeses such as parmesan and gorgonzola.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate this Barbaresco 2018, it is recommended to serve it between 18 and 20°C in large, rounded glasses. A gentle decanting of 30 to 60 minutes before tasting is advised. This wine can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably, drinking well until around 2040.

The elegance and complexity of a great wine from Piedmont

The estate

The estate's contemporary history truly began in 1978, when Bruno Rocca decided to bottle the fruit of his vines under his own name. Located in the hills of the Langhe, in Piedmont, the family estate is now run by Bruno Rocca, alongside his children Luisa and Francesco. The estate is distinguished by its minimal-intervention philosophy and its deep commitment to sustainable viticulture, seeking above all to let the terroir express itself with authenticity through wines of great purity.

The vineyard

Spanning around fifteen hectares, the vineyard benefits from the unique microclimate of the Barbaresco appellation, moderated by the proximity of the Tanaro river. The vines thrive on limestone-rich soils composed of white and blue-grey marls, as well as marine minerals. The estate applies sustainable, organic farming methods, excluding all synthetic chemical products in favour of green fertilisers and natural compost. Particular attention is also paid to preserving old Nebbiolo clones in order to maintain genetic diversity.

The vintage

The year began with a long winter and abundant rainfall until the end of May, allowing the soils to replenish their water reserves. After a hailstorm in July, summer heat set in later than usual. September offered ideal conditions, with sunny, dry days and pronounced temperature swings, favouring slow, balanced ripening of the berries until the manual harvest began in late September.

Winemaking and aging

The production of the 2018 Barbaresco is based on a fruit-respectful approach. After gentle manual destemming, fermentation is initiated using indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with whole-berry maceration lasting around forty days. Malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously in wood. Aging lasts 18 months in French oak barrels, a small proportion of which are new, having been air-dried for more than three years beforehand.

Grape variety

Nebbiolo (100%).