The 2001 vintage in Piedmont has long been a favorite of mine. Bruno Giacosa’s 2001 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto is explosive and decadently rich from the very first taste. The 2001 is arguably the last truly classic vintage for the Rocche Red Label. To be sure, the 2004, 2005 and 2007 are all compelling, but the 2001 has more in common stylistically with vintages like 1996 and 1999. Dense, perfumed and wonderfully intense, the 2001 is phenomenally great. Wow.

From the first parcels acquired by Bruno Giacosa in the 1980s, the iconic red label is made only in years the family deems truly perfect. With intoxicating perfumes of sweet earth, dried cherry, raspberry, fennel seeds, celery root and iron, bottle no. 5,430 sent shivers down my spine. Long-limbed tannins still stretch out with sneaky firmness. The execution is graceful and seamless. Bitter chocolate and orange linger on the finish, leaving the palate energised and salivating. Drinking Window: 2021 - 2033
Tasted by: Michaela Morris (at Vancouver, 08 Oct 2021)
Part of Barolo and Brunello vintages to drink now

This is a beautiful, seductive wine with power yet great finesse. It's full-bodied, with a massive silky mouthfeel and lovely raspberry and strawberry character. It's very, very long. All in harmony. Giacosa is a master. Not the 100-point 2000, but stupendous just the same. Best after 2009. 1,200 cases made.

– Wine Spectator, October 2005

Good medium red. Knockout nose shows great precision to the clean aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, minerals and rose petal; this struck me as quite Burgundian. Then minerally and austere in the mouth, showing great intensity and floral perfume but no impression of thickness or weight. Downright Musigny-like, with superb energy from the limestone soil. Perhaps best of all on the gripping, rising, extremely long finish, which features a powerful tannic spine and exudes a compelling floral perfume. Destined to be long-lived, and a classic.

– vinous.com, November 2007