Albino Rocca 2022 Cottà Barbaresco DOCG Piedmont Italy
96 Points Vinous | 94 Points James Suckling | 94 Points Wine Enthusiast | 92 Points Decanter
Albino Rocca 2022 Cottà Barbaresco DOCG is a powerful yet beautifully refined single-vineyard Nebbiolo from the historic Cottà cru in Neive, one of the celebrated communes of Barbaresco in Piedmont, Italy.
Produced from 100% Nebbiolo, Cottà represents one of Albino Rocca's four cru Barbarescos and one of the estate's smallest-production wines. The Rocca family purchased this small vineyard in the 1970s and began bottling Cottà separately with the 2015 vintage.
The 2022 is particularly impressive, earning 96 points from Vinous, which singled it out for its concentration, depth and textural volume and called it one of the wines of the year. James Suckling awarded it 94 points, Wine Enthusiast 94 points, and Decanter 92 points.
Tasting Notes
The 2022 Albino Rocca Cottà Barbaresco is deep, expressive and beautifully layered.
The nose unfolds with dark red cherry, strawberry, plum, lavender and rose petals, joined by more savory nuances of rhubarb, earth, licorice root, sweet spice and citrus.
On the palate, Cottà shows the richer personality associated with this Neive site. Ripe red fruit is carried by fine, silky tannins and lively acidity, creating an impressive combination of concentration and elegance. Floral notes and sweet spice emerge as the wine opens, while a subtle dusty and earthy quality provides additional complexity.
Despite its depth, the wine retains the finesse that makes great Barbaresco so compelling. The finish is persistent, fresh and beautifully balanced, with lingering red fruit, flowers, spice and mineral-earth notes.
Critical Acclaim
96 Points — Vinous
Antonio Galloni describes the 2022 as deep and expressive, with greater concentration and textural volume than other wines in the range. Dark cherry and plum mingle with lavender and rose petal in what he considers one of the standout wines of the year.
94 Points — James Suckling
Suckling finds an elegant, restrained Barbaresco showing rhubarb, strawberry, earth and sweet spice, complemented by silky tannins, freshness and floral-citrus character. He suggests it is approachable now but best beginning in 2026.
94 Points — Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast highlights wild berries, meadow flowers, blue and red fruit, subtle spice and graceful tannins, giving the wine a drinking window through 2045.
92 Points — Decanter
Decanter notes strawberry, dried rose, nutmeg and licorice-root characteristics, followed by supple red fruit, fine sandy tannins and energetic acidity.
The Cottà Cru — Neive
Cottà is one of the historic crus of Barbaresco, situated in the commune of Neive.
Albino Rocca's parcel occupies a small section midway up a southwest-facing slope, adjacent to the estate's historic Gepin vineyard and directly facing its Ronchi vineyards.
This is genuinely small-scale production. According to Albino Rocca, the parcel produces no more than approximately 15 hectoliters of wine, and most of its vines are more than 50 years old.
The vineyard's marl soils contain a predominance of limestone with clay and smaller amounts of sand. Albino Rocca describes the site's clay-marl soils as producing wines with richness, solidity and robustness that complement Nebbiolo's natural elegance.
The vines were planted between 1962 and 1996.
Traditional Aging
Albino Rocca's approach to Barbaresco has evolved toward allowing the character of Nebbiolo and individual vineyards to take center stage.
The estate began increasing its use of large oak casks in 2004, viewing them not simply as a return to tradition but as a way of emphasizing Nebbiolo's personality, purity and elegance.
The Cottà is matured for approximately two years in large German and Austrian oak casks, including Stockinger oak, followed by further refinement in bottle before release.
For the 2022 vintage specifically, the estate reduced fermentation temperatures to preserve freshness and avoid excessive extraction during a hot growing season. The 2022 Barbarescos underwent approximately 15 days of fermentation followed by an additional 15–20 days on the skins before aging in cask.
About Albino Rocca
Albino Rocca is a family-run estate deeply rooted in Barbaresco. The family's winemaking activity began in the 1950s, although its experience growing grapes extends back into the 19th century.
Over successive generations, the family gradually acquired important vineyards and increasingly focused on expressing individual Barbaresco sites separately.
Today, its vineyard-designated Barbarescos include Cottà, Ronchi, Ovello Vigna Loreto and Montersino, with the estate emphasizing purity, elegance and a faithful expression of Barbaresco terroir.
Food Pairing
The combination of Nebbiolo's acidity, structured tannins and the richer personality of Cottà makes this an exceptional food wine.
Pair with:
Braised beef • Osso buco • Wild boar ragù • Roasted lamb • Duck • Porcini mushroom risotto • Truffle pasta • Tajarin with white truffle • Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano • Castelmagno
For a classic Piedmontese pairing, serve it with tajarin or risotto with Alba truffles.
A decant is recommended if drinking young.
Wine Details
Producer: Albino Rocca
Vintage: 2022
Wine: Cottà
Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG
Cru / MGA: Cottà
Commune: Neive
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Exposure: Southwest
Soil: Marl with limestone, clay and sand
Vine Plantings: 1962–1996
Aging: Approximately 20–24 months in large oak casks
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Production: Extremely limited; estate parcel yields no more than approximately 15 hl
Cellaring: Drink now with air or cellar; Wine Enthusiast indicates potential through 2045.
Why You'll Love It
The appeal here is the combination of site, old vines, tiny production and exceptional critical acclaim.
Cottà gives Nebbiolo a somewhat richer and more muscular expression while maintaining the perfume, freshness and refined tannins expected from top Barbaresco.
And the 2022 appears to be a particularly successful Cottà: four major critics scored it between 92 and 96 points, with Vinous awarding 96 points.
For collectors of Barolo and Barbaresco, this is a compelling opportunity to experience a small-production, vineyard-specific Nebbiolo from one of Neive's historic sites.
