Rabaja, Azienda Agricola Bruno Rocca di
Piedmont, Italy
Barbaresco
Rabaja
Nebbiolo
2000
$85.99
14.5%
Reddish purple core, a bit layered but still transparent on the whole, crimson rims, not showing substantial age. The nose is heavy enough that it is difficult to parse out, still you get cherry reduction, plum, licorice, cowhide and a ton of tarriness, tends to chug to a halt in the nostrils. Full-bodied, tannins resolved yet the acidity keeps shaving away. Hard to imagine it but even tarrier here. Bodacious leatheriness as well. There is a candied cherry to berry fruit element, however, it is overcome by tertiary aspects. Perhaps more herbaceous at the end. Tries real hard to lift through the finish but can't.
88 points