Barbaresco DOC Maria Adelaide 2004 Bruno Rocca

The 2004 Barbaresco Maria Adelaide shows the level Rocca is capable of when a great vintage comes along, and make no mistake about it, the 2004 Maria Adelaide is a great Barbaresco. This deep, dark sensual wine emerges with beautifully integrated layers of ripe dark fruit, French oak, new leather, licorice and menthol in a regal expression of Nebbiolo from Barbaresco. The tannins are incredibly silky for such a young wine. The Maria Adelaide is a selection of the best fruit from Rocca's various vineyards and he gives the wine a touch more new oak than his other Barbarescos. The 2004 Barbaresco is not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2024. 

 I was delighted with the wines I tasted this year from Bruno Rocca, who remains one of the most forward-thinking growers in Barbaresco. In addition to these fine 2006s, Rocca has a fascinating set of 2007s waiting in the wings. Rocca's winery sits atop the heart of the Rabaja vineyard, a parcel that is easily one of Italy's greatest grand cru vineyards. Rocca aims to make wines that can be enjoyed with a minimum of cellaring and I would say he did just that with his 2006s.

The 2004 Barbaresco Maria Adelaide is a selection of the best fruit across all of the estate's various parcels. It is also the richest and most powerful of these Barbarescos. Dark red cherry, plum, chocolate, smoke, spice and leather are all fused together. The Maria Adelaide has the stuffing to stand up all of the new oak, but it still bears those signatures. This is another wine that was more impressive when it was first released than it is now.