Mauro Velgio, Barolo (Piedmont, Italy) 2012

The Rocche Dell’Annunziata cru in La Morra was apparently perfectly attuned to weather and growing conditions in 2012, as these wines totally stood out as a group when tasted blind.  Veglio’s rendering of Rocche is just a little oakier than the other most successful wines, but it has more than enough concentrated, sweet fruit to counterbalance the wood, and is already delicious.  Firm but still fleshy, this will be terrific in just a year or two, and will surely improve for a full decade.