1996 Armando Parusso Barolo Bussia Vigna Rocche

Deep ruby-red. Raspberry, minerals, dark chocolate, shoe polish and smoky oak on the nose. Fat and silky, with outstanding sweetness. More expressive in the mouth than the Vigna Munie, if not quite as primary or explosive on the finish. Here the strong tannins offer uncanny sweetness. Seductive and strong.

Author: Stephen Tanzer

Issue: November/December 1998

Lots of blackberry and violet, with hints of toasty oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, delicious finish. Elegant and caressing. From magnum.--1996 Piedmont retrospective. 415 cases made.

Author: James Suckling

The 1996 Barolo Vigna Rocche is an excellent wine. In addition to the tar, smoke, dried herbs, leather, and cherry fruit aromas, it reveals a distinctive mineral/powdered rock character. A full-bodied, powerful Barolo that possesses superb richness, a multidimensional personality, and a boatload of tannin, this wine is big and concentrated. There is moderate tannin in the finish, but the fruit and terroir characteristics dominate.

Author: Robert Parker