Wine Advisor
Rocche Dei Manzoni, Barolo Vigna Cappella di Santo Stefano 2004
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2004 Barolo Cappella di Santo Stefano is drop-dead gorgeous. The wine reveals notable clarity in its translucent, violet-hued color. Vibrant dark cherries, tar, smoke, sweet herbs and toasted oak sweep across the palate in a stunning expression of Nebbiolo and the high-altitude Perno vineyard in Monforte. This wine is all about precision, delineation and striking balance. The oak is beautifully integrated and the tannins convey an impression of vitality and poise. This is an emotional, breathtaking Barolo of the highest level.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Medium red-ruby. Expressive, nuanced nose combines redcurrant, raspberry, plum, truffle and smoky oak. Broad, rich, sweet and fine-grained; the supplest, fullest and densest of this trio of 2004s. Finishes broad and horizontal, with big but fine tannins arriving late. This makes the Big seem small-scaled.
About the Producer
Rocche dei Manzoni was founded by Valentino Migliorini in 1974. The winery is located in the small enclave of Manzoni, in Monforte d'Alba. The buildings that make up the complex fit perfectly into the beautiful hilly landscape of the Langhe. A place where art, culture and music come together and create a unique opportunity to explore the great vintages that the Langhe has to offer. 50 hectares, all located in the municipality of Monforte. An indissoluble link has been formed over time with the hills, and has led the winery to only consider purchasing land within the municipality. In 1998, the Pianpolvere Soprano wine cellar in the vineyard of Bussia was purchased, and is run as an independent entity. It is a biologically run winery that, starting from harvest 2017, boasts the biodynamical certification too The production philosophy is based upon a desire to intervene as little as possible in the wine cellar operations. However, this does not mean that they do not have their own style. Rocche dei Manzoni has always been faithful to its core processes and these are based on the use of new small oak barrels for red wines. Over the years Rodolfo has learned how to properly blend wood to wine and this led him to introduce the use of egg-shaped concrete wine tanks in 2008. Thanks to these, the winery has managed to find the keystone to producing wines that are even more elegant and silky smooth.
