Albino Rocca Barbaresco Montersino DOCG 2017

This wine pours from the bottle with a translucent ruby color and a lean appearance. The Albino Rocca 2017 Barbaresco Montersino does not hide the heat of the vintage compared to the Ronchi and the Cottà expressions. In this wine, from the Montersino vineyard in Treiso, I taste just a hint of the sweet strawberry and raspberry preserves that are characteristic of this vintage. Beyond the fruit, there is a chalky, mineral element that is very nice. Overall, I would consider this to be an accessible, medium-term drinking option. There is some astringency in the dry tannin, and although it will
most certainly soften with time, I'm not sure it will ever fully disappear. The Montersino cru is located in the southern part of the appellation and has higher-altitude plantings (at about 310 meters above sea level) that benefit from more wind ventilation and "softer" soils that are a mix of calcareous sand and sandstone. Indeed, the well-draining sandy component makes up 30% of the soil composition. Given those soil characteristics, I'm not surprised that this wine feels riper in this drought-prone vintage. The plot farmed by Albino Rocca is only half a hectare in size, and it is located near the top of the hill with south and southwest exposures. The vines were
planted in 1998. A mere 2,000 bottles were released in March 2020.

Score: 91
Tasting date: 23 July 2020
Drinking window: 2022 > 2035 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, reviewed by: Monica Larner

Treiso. Tasted blind. Mid ruby with orange tinges. A little closed on the nose and with hints of rose-hip jam. Savoury-sweet fruit palate that is still compact and with minerally notes. The fruit starts to just open up on the finish. Has all the building blocks to gain in complexity with more age and is definitely worth the wait (Walter Speller).

Jancis Robinson score: 17+
Tasting date: 20 July 2020
Drinking window: 2022 - 2030

JancisRobinson.com

The 2017 Barbaresco Montersino offers a striking mix of energy, power and depth. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, white flowers, chalk and pine are all laced together in a lithe Barbaresco that pulses with vibrancy. The Montersino impresses with its persistence and feeling of vitality

Score: 92
Tasting date: October 2020
Drinking window: 2023 - 2035

Vinous -- Antonio Galloni

Wine Enthousiast: 95

falstaff: 93