T invited to a fascinating tasting, consisting of nine different expressions of Rocche di Castiglione. T & P had amassed the bottles and an evening a couple of weeks ago it was time to taste them.
Great company, stellar food and nine bottles of Barolo, the recipe for a fantastic evening!
Flight I
2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Oddero
A handsome, balanced nose with notes of dried strawberries, black tea and, with air, some toffee notes. Very fine.
The taste is young and forward with a fine structure for medium aging, polished tannins and a long, silky finish. 5+ years.
93p (tasted 2025/05)
2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Paolo Scavino
A big, tight nose with notes of fir wood, asphalt, ski wax and a hint of dark chocolate.
The taste is rich and plentiful with notes of ripe cherries, chocolate biscuits and asphalt. A tad angular in the finish, I guess that this needs some time in the cellar.
91p (tasted 2025/05)
2020 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Ceretto
A young, restrained nose with notes of cement, candle grease, ripe cherries and some balsamic notes.
The taste is is tight and seedy with notes of cherry pips, fir wood, forest floor and iron. Very long. 6+ years.
90p (tasted 2025/05)
Flight II
2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Roccheviberti
A deep, light meaty nose with notes of dried flowers, rust, orange peel and ripe cherries. Complex and fine.
The taste is tight and concentrated with sandy tannine, ripe cherry fruit and a long, intense finish. Needs more time in the cellar, 7+ years.
92p (tasted 2025/05)
2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Fratelli Monchiero
A damp cellar note came and vent, so it was not corked but something wasn´t right with this bottle.
Not rated (tasted 2025/05)
2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Vietti
A deep, velvety nose with notes of smoke, roses, dried raspberries and Lange earth. Very fine.
The taste is structured and fine with silky tannins, assorted ripe red berries and a long, juicy finish. 4+ years.
93p (tasted 2025/05)
Flight III
2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Arnaldo Rivera
Oak, oak and then some notes of hard cherry candy, tobacco, rosehips and….oak. I can stand a healthy dose of oak but the line up from Arnaldi Rivera contains too much. Too bad, they have access to lots of great raw material.
The taste is tight and dry with notes of leather, ripening cherries and undergrowth. And oak. Maybe 10+ years in the cellar will integrate the oak (as with Clerico´s wines), but I wouldn´t bet on it.
82p (tasted 2025/05)
2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Sordo
A deep, forward nose with notes of dried up cherry jam, ripe herbs, minerals and rosehip. Very, very good.
The taste is still young and perky with notes of hard cherry candy, sweet minerals, dried flowers and licorice. Long and fine. 5+ years.
91p (tasted 2025/05)
2013 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione, Brovia
My WOTN. A restrained, refined nose with notes of ripe cherries, licorice, violets and Langhe earth. Lovely.
The taste is rich and concentrated with brilliant fruit, a fantastic balance and a structure for longevity. Great wine.
95p (tasted 2025/05)
