Paolo Scavino Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata Riserva 2016

A magnificent Northern Italian red wine displaying a deep, captivating garnet color with warm brick reflections along the rim. Meticulously produced only in exceptional vintages from historic, old vines in the prestigious Rocche dell'Annunziata cru of La Morra, this legendary 2016 Riserva showcases a benchmark vintage for the region. It opens with an explosive, aristocratic bouquet of dried cherries, wild red berries, and fresh rose petals. The multi-layered nose reveals stunning complexity, showing regional hallmarks of sweet spices, Mediterranean herbs, tobacco, dried apricots, and hints of crushed nuts seamlessly integrated with a classic touch of tar and mint from extended wood maturation. On the palate, it balances a full-bodied, super-relaxed fruit character and a vibrant, linear alpine acidity with dense, seamless tannins that never display any angular edge, concluding in a remarkably long, concentrated, and never-ending finish.

Food Pairing: Pairs flawlessly with robust meat dishes like slow-braised wild boar, Bistecca alla Fiorentina, roasted venison loin, or a mature 36-month Parmigiano-Reggiano.

100 Points - James Suckling

Wow! There’s so much going on here. The nose presents an intense mix of dried cherry and red-berry fruit and rose petals, together with mild spice, Mediterranean herbs, tobacco dried apricot and dried and fresh nuts. Much more if you dig in. Full-bodied, super-relaxed palate that is the perfect display case for all the complex fruit character. The tannins are dense but seamless, never displaying any angular edge. Super-long and super concentrated, this is hard to fault. Yet, despite all the seeming extravagance, it remains a composed red with a long life ahead of it. Drink at your leisure.

98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This is a stunner. The Paolo Scavino 2016 Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata is a beautifully balanced and memorable wine that will continue to delight for years to come. It is compact and silky in texture with abundant and very lively aromas of dark fruit and wild cherry. The Rocche dell'Annunziata vineyard is located in La Morra. This is a gorgeous wine that awards lots of emotion. Production is 6,800 bottles.

97 Points - Wine Spectator 

A vibrant, linear and firmly structured red, this evokes cherry, raspberry, sun-kissed hay and licorice aromas and flavors. This is intense and builds to a long aftertaste of fruit, licorice and mineral notes, showing terrific balance and precision. Best from 2024 through 2042. 495 cases made, 198 cases imported.

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast 

Aromas of French oak, camphor and dark-skinned berry form the nose. The full-bodied palate offers coconut, licorice, dried cherry and espresso before a long licorice finish. Taut, fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2028–2036. Kerin O’Keefe