Ceretto's finest Barolo of the vintage appears to be the 1998 Barolo Bricco Rocche. An incredibly complex perfume of creosote, minerals, smoke, soy, black cherries, and incense is accompanied by a full-bodied, sweet, layered, powerful wine with outstanding balance. Long as well as elegant, this beauty will be at its finest between 2002-2017. Importer: Veuve Clicquot, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575

Dense and rich, with coffee, tobacco and toasty oak character, as well as very ripe fruit. Full and velvety, with a decadent flavor of meat, ripe berries and toasty oak. A year or two would make it even better, but the opulence is so attractive now.--1998 Piedmont blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2010. 560 cases made, 150 cases imported.??–JS??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barolo Select to Add

From Ceretto’s Bricco Rocche winery, this is an impressive wine. Perfumed hedgerow aromas and, on the palate, big, dusty tannins, give tremendous power and richness. Tarry, black fruit flavors blend with layers of acidity and wood. ——R.V.(11/15/2002)—— 94