Antonio Galloni, 95 points:The 2005 Barolo Riserva 150 Anniversario Rocche-Villero, bottled only in magnum to celebrate the estate's 150th anniversary, has blossomed into a gorgeous wine. Ample, generous and inviting, the 2005 brings together the aromatics and sensuality of Rocche with the darker fruit and structural weight of Villero, a compelling combination, to say the least. The creamy, beautifully layered finish only adds to the wine's considerable appeal. Readers who own the 2005 are in for a real treat.
Giacinto Brovia and Alex Sanchez the winemaker: "If we had to characterize the wines of Castiglione Falletto, we would say that they are wines that exhibit a notable equilibrium between elegance and structure. In other Barolo communes, the terroir tends to yield wines whose complexity of bouquet and elegance predominate over their strength and structure. In the best Castiglione Falletto wines, all of these qualities are in perfect balance. Rocche often shows very dark color, and its wines are tighter. Of all of our Barolos, Villero is the one most suitable for Riservas."
The Story: To celebrate their 150 anniversary, Brovia released just 1,743 magnums of a special reserve called "Rocche-Villero", which is a blend of two of the most famous vineyards in Castiglione Falletto: Rocche di Castiglione and Villero.
The blend of Rocche with Villero is a famous recipe to make great Barolo, perfected by the old co-operative winery Cantina Sociale Rocche di Castiglione. "Rocche for fragrance, Villero for flavour." was the theory behind this blending.
Production: 1,743 magnums