2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione

This is a stellar set of wines from Elena Brovia and Alex Sánchez. Readers will find plenty to admire in these elegant, translucent Barolos. This year, I find the Barolo Rocche di Castiglione especially seductive. More importantly, the Rocche is such an archetype, the sort of wine that readers who want to understand the essence of site should explore. The vintage was not without its challenges, however. Severe frost wiped out half the crop in Garblèt Sue'. “Aside from frost in Garblèt Sue', the vintage was pretty uneventful,” Sánchez explained. “We did start to see some heat stress at the end of the year, but water reserves from the winter were a help. A little stress for vineyards is a positive. Stress, but not torture.” The 2021 were vinified in cement. Time on skins was 3-4 weeks, without submerged cap maceration. Malolactic fermentation was done in stainless steel. The Barolos spent one year in Slavonian oak casks, followed by a second year in French oak casks.