When people discuss Barolo, they talk about Renato Ratti. A local and international icon, Renato revolutionized Barolo wine, setting quality standards and taking part in writing the law that now enforces the rules of the Barolo appellation.

The "Conca dell'Abbazia dell'Annunziata" (The hollow of the Abbey of our Lady of the Annunciation) is one of the oldest sub zones of the entire Barolo District, an area already appreciated by the Benedictine Monks for its particular soil and microclimate. Growing here is the purple red "Anemone Coronaria" flower, a one-of-a-kind rarity in the entire Langhe region.

The excellent 2013 Barolo Conca breaks away from past editions in terms of intensity and elegance. This classic vintage has produced a wine of power, heft and concentration. Yet that determination is delivered with polite manners. The base of the wine consists of ample structure and depth. The multilayered aromas on top peel back to reveal dark cherry, licorice and white truffle. This wine is endowed with generous heft and substance that should carry it steadily through its bottle evolution. Rating: 94 Points; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

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