Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche Annunziata 2016 (750ML)

97 WE / 97 JS / 96+ WA / 95 WS / 95 DE / 94+ VM

#64 James Suckling's Top 100 Italian Wines of 2022

Glossy, elegant and full bodied, this beauty opens with aromas of dark berry, menthol, wild rose and exotic spice. The delicious, finessed palate doles out mouthfuls of juicy red cherry, raspberry compote, vanilla and licorice framed in taut, fine-grained tannins. Vibrant acidity keeps it focused and lends youthful tension. Drink 2024–2046. Kerin O’Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

This is so wonderfully perfumed with tangerine and strawberry aromas that rise out of the glass in a spectacular way. The palate is full, yet so fine-textured, with super-polished tannins and a finish that goes on for minutes. A sublime Barolo. Try after 2025, but already a joy to taste. - James Suckling

From the first sip, you are made aware of the power and depth of this wine. At the top of the estate portfolio, the Renato Ratti 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is the most structured and layered expression, with fruit from one of the flagship vineyards of La Morra. The power of the wine unfolds with dark fruit, cassis and crushed rock. I gave my sample ample aeration, and that made all the difference. I tasted menthol and balsam herb in a fluid and ever-changing exchange. The Conca shows more mineral definition, and the Rocche dell'Annunziata is all about power, depth and length. Monica Larner – The Wine Advocate

Complex aromas and flavors of red berries, iron, tobacco, tar and licorice take on a saline element as this winds down on the lingering aftertaste. Starts out with plenty of personality, firming up in the end, with a juicy finish. Best from 2023 through 2042. 416 cases made, 150 cases imported. — BS -Wine Spectator

2016 was one of the very best vintages in recent memory for Barolo, with a harvest that took place around the 12th of October, among the latest in this decade; Ratti produced an exemplary offering of Rocche this vintage, with aromas of wild cherry, orange roses and a hint of tar, while there is precise acidity, excellent persistence and outstanding complexity. Tannins are medium-full and refined; a powerful Rocche structure for the long haul. Drinking Window 2030 - 2045. --Tom Hyland, Decanter

The 2016 Barolo Rocche dell’Annunziata is a classic Barolo from La Morra’s most famous site. Fresh flowers, pine, mint, crushed rocks and red berry fruit are all finely-knit. The Rocche is translucent and finessed, with notable energy and tons of palate presence, all in a more traditional style than has been the norm in recent years. There is some youthful austerity, but nothing a bit of time in bottle can’t soften.-- Antonio Galloni – Vinous Media