The 2017 Barolo Falletto Vigna Le Rocche Riserva from Bruno Giacosa is the estate’s finest expression from its Serralunga d’Alba vineyard holdings, and a wine of enormous prestige and collector importance. James Suckling awarded the 2017 Le Rocche Riserva 98 points and Wine Advocate awarded 97 points, confirming this as one of the finest Le Rocche Riserva vintages in recent years and a wine that reflects both the extraordinary quality of this specific Serralunga vineyard and the continuing commitment to traditional Barolo winemaking under Bruna Giacosa’s direction. The Le Rocche Riserva is produced only in exceptional vintages from the oldest sections of the Falletto vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, making each release both rare and historically significant. This standard 75cl bottle shares the same wine as the 1.5L magnum offered in Batch 14 of this catalogue, making both formats available as complementary cellar acquisitions in this extraordinary vintage.

The 2017 Barolo vintage was warm and, in many parts of the appellation, produced wines of excellent early accessibility and aromatic richness, but the Serralunga d’Alba’s particularly deep and calcareous Tortonian marl soils and the elevation and aspect of the Falletto vineyard provided the combination of heat retention and mineral freshness that produces wines of genuine complexity rather than simple power. From this vineyard, where the oldest vines’ deep root systems penetrate far into the limestone subsoil, the warmth of 2017 translated into a wine of exceptional aromatic richness alongside the structural depth that has made Le Rocche Riserva one of the most age-worthy wines in all of Piedmont.

The 2017 Le Rocche Riserva in the standard bottle format occupies a complementary position to the 2016 and 2019 Le Rocche wines also offered in this catalogue, providing collectors with the opportunity to compare three consecutive high-scoring Le Rocche vintages across different expressions of the Serralunga terroir and the Giacosa winemaking philosophy. For those who seek the standard bottle format for earlier drinking while retaining magnums for longer cellaring, the 2017 is an ideal acquisition.

Garnet with a hauntingly aromatic nose of dried rose, iron, dark cherry, camphor, dried herbs, spice, mineral and the distinctive Serralunga Tortonian marl character. Full-bodied with firm, well-structured tannins, excellent natural acidity and a very long, mineral, complex finish of great ageing ambition and persistence. Best from 2027 through 2055.

Roses and lavender with other flowers. Peaches. Glorious fruit of dark plums and ripe strawberries. This is dense and intense but there are layers of very fine tannins, like fine cashmere. Goes on for minutes. Opens in the mouth. Almost endless. - James Suckling