1990 Barolo Bricco Rocche Prapo

The 1990 Barolo Bricco Rocche Prapo is a fascinating wine that yields a better understanding of where the Nebbiolo trajectory would soon take Barolo after this landmark vintage. With fruit sourced from one of the best sites at the heart of the appellation in Castiglione Falletto, the wine shows a surprising degree of dark fruit concentration and textural richness. Ceretto was one of the first major estates to adopt a so-called “international” approach to Nebbiolo with the use of smaller oak vessels for softening the grape’s notorious tannins. In this case, that extra heft and structure has very much helped to carry the wine forward over the years. Dark plum, prune, crushed granite and dried juniper berry flow generously from the bouquet. The wine is near the end of its drinking window, but still has some kick and pizzazz. In 1987, Ceretto moved its headquarters to the Tenuta Monsordo Bernardina location. Drink: 2014-2020.