Although Renato Ratti was a seminal figure behind the development of single vineyard concepts in Piedmont, and the architect of one of the most famous classifications of its finest sites, I have always had an ambivalent impression of the estate's won wines. Today, his son Pietro is in charge of the historical property at Annunziata, set in an amphitheatre below La Morra. In his spare time, he also manages the Consorzio (di Tutela Barolo Barbaresco Alba Langhe e Roero) responsible for marketing the region's wines. While visiting this morning with Jean-Pierre Guiraud and Romain Olivi from Taransaud, he showed us his three 2009s Barolo in their new tasting rooms above the vineyards. The sweet, commercial style that I have often associated with this property was only further exacerbated by a warm vintage that is currently showing little of the structure that I associate with great Nebbiolo. Only the Rocche dell'Annunziata displayed a touch of the silky tannins and herbal charm that merit closer scrutiny. That said, my colleagues loved the wines... Comments