Barolo, “Rocche di Castiglione”

This splendid site in Castiglione Falletto, the fabled “Rocche,” gives us a window onto the elegant, feminine side of Barolo.  Always the most aromatic and sensual of the crus from Brovia, the Rocche dei Brovia carries its weight with a ballerina-like delicacy on top of tannins that are sweet and silky.  A seductress that tempts you to the table with its near-athletic versatility, the Rocche is the one member of this special quartet of crus that will charm you from the outset.  The unique qualities of this “cru” result from the sandy soil composition that is in stark contrast to the terrain that underlies its neighboring “crus” in Castiglione Falletto.  The Brovia parcel (1.5 hectares) of this vineyard faces southeast and sits at 350 meters altitude.  The vines were planted in 1966.  The wine ferments for at least 3 weeks and then is racked into large oak barrels of French origin for an aging period of no less than two years before it is bottled (unfiltered).  Annual production is on the order of 5,500 bottles of which 1,200 bottles (plus 60 magnums) are exported to the USA.