Wine Advisor
Paolo Scavino, Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva 2004
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata has developed beautifully since I last tasted it a few years ago. That said, I am amazed how bright and primary the fruit still is. Sweet, perfumed aromatics lead to a core of silky fruit as this elegant, pedigreed Barolo emerges from the glass. The tannins are exceptionally refined all the way through to the finish, while the French oak is virtually imperceptible. What remains is a gorgeous, fruit-driven Barolo that captures the essence of the Scavino style at its best. The wine should enjoy a long drinking window to age 25 and quite likely longer. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029. This is a wonderful set of new wines from Enrico Scavino and his daughters Enrica and Elisa. The dark, almost impenetrable color of the 1990s is gone and these Barolos now look like Barolos. To be sure, Scavino’s wines are still characterized by a plushness and opulence of fruit that sets them apart. Yet all of these 2006 Barolos reveal exceptional length, beautifully balanced tannins and gorgeous overall harmony. They should be on anyone’s short list of must-have wines. The Barolos are fermented in stainless steel, undergo malolactic fermentation in French oak and are subsequently aged for a year in French oak barrels followed by a second year in cask. Importer: Banville & Jones Wine Merchants, New York, NY; tel. (204) 294-4899
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
2004 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell’Annunziata— I was stunned by the exquisite elegance and class of the 2004 Rocche dell’Annunziata. It offers an explosive array of sweet dark red fruit, spice and mineral flavors, with outstanding persistence on the palate and a wonderful sense of freshness on the fine, long finish. Likely to be one of the vintage’s top wines. (92-95), 11/05 With his boyish enthusiasm it is hard to believe Enrico Scavino has a full 50 vintages under his belt. “I started working at the family estate when I was a young boy,” says Scavino. “I remember the 1958 vintage in particular. We had a very cool spring and many vineyards were affected by peronospora (a fungal disease that can affect the vines). Flowering was irregular and the plants carried very little fruit. We made a rich, concentrated Barolo that year that was a huge hit with our customers. It was a great way to start, and I’ve been hooked ever since.” Scavino has turned out an excellent set of wines in both 2003 and 2004, although I give the edge to the 2004s, which offer more nuance and better balance. I did not taste the normale or the Carobric, both wines that are made from a blend of various parcels.
About the Producer
Paolo Scavino is an estate in Barolo known for its polished, elegant red wines from the Nebbiolo grape variety. The estate owns 23 hectares (57 acres) entirely within Barolo with parcels in 19 different cru vineyards in all but three of the Barolo communes. The range of nine Barolo wines is led by the Bric Dël Fiasc (from the Fiasco cru in Castiglione Falletto, and produced in both standard and Riserva bottlings), the Cannubi, and the Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata which is aged for an additional year both in large casks and in bottle, and is sourced from a cru vineyard in La Morra. The portfolio of red wines also includes a Langhe Nebbiolo, two Barbera d'Alba wines, a Dolcetto d'Alba, and a Vino Rosso blended from the younger vines grown on the estate. The Langhe Sorriso is Paulo Scavino's key white wine made from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier. The company was founded in 1921 in Castiglione Falleto by Lorenzo Scavino and his son Paolo. Enrico Scavino has been working in the winery since the age of ten, beginning in 1951. He now runs his estate with his daughters, who are the fourth generation.
