Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninlow
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 5 to 15 years from vintage.

vintage5 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedLow tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: golden apple, hazelnut, almond, white peach, honey, tufa mineral, toasted oak

Palate: almond paste, golden apple, hazelnut, cream, saline mineral, vanilla

La Rocca is 100% Garganega from the volcanic tufa hillside above Soave castle, barrel-fermented and aged. Develops hazelnut-honey complexity over 10-plus years while retaining the grape's almond-mineral core.

What it pairs with

  • Risotto al tartufo bianco White truffle's intense mineral-honey character finds a perfect complement in La Rocca's hazelnut-cream register.More wines for risotto →
  • Lobster with butter and tarragon Rich crustacean fat and the wine's golden apple-hazelnut weight are a classic luxury pairing.More wines for lobster →
  • Veal carpaccio with aged Monte Veronese The wine's oak weight and almond mineral backbone bridge the delicate veal and hard cheese.More wines for beef and red meat →

With cheese

Asiago d'Allevo Our pick Asiago d'Allevo Mezzano is compact with sweet notes, turning savoury and grainy as it ages. Garganega fermented or aged in oak barriques has a rounder texture that matches the firm paste, and its high acidity keeps the pairing fresh.

How to serve Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca

Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
  2. Serve at 8-10°C. Cellar temperature (8-10°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a smaller all-purpose white glass , the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Risotto al tartufo bianco, Lobster with butter and tarragon, Veal carpaccio with aged Monte Veronese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

La Rocca was the first barrel-aged Soave, introducing French oak to the appellation in 1978. Named for the volcanic tufa hillside below Soave castle, the single-vineyard Garganega plot produces a wine of exceptional density and ageing capacity, demonstrating that Garganega on volcanic soil is one of Italy's greatest white wine grapes.

  1. 1978First La Rocca single-vineyard barrel-fermented Soave, pioneering oak in the appellation

Facts

Producer
Pieropan · visiting guide
Grapes
Garganega (100%)
Classification
Soave Classico DOC
Oak
Fermented and aged 8 months in small French oak barriques; first introduced barriques to Soave
ABV
13.5%
Price
€40-60 at retail
Drinking window
5-15 from vintage
First vintage
1978

Frequently asked about Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca

What does Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca taste like?

On the nose, golden apple, hazelnut, almond, white peach, honey. On the palate, almond paste, golden apple, hazelnut, cream, saline mineral. Structurally medium-bodied, low tannins, high acidity with a long finish. La Rocca is 100% Garganega from the volcanic tufa hillside above Soave castle, barrel-fermented and aged. Develops hazelnut-honey complexity over 10-plus years while retaining the grape's almond-mineral core.

When should I drink Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca?

Drink 5-15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca?

Risotto al tartufo bianco is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Lobster with butter and tarragon and Veal carpaccio with aged Monte Veronese. White truffle's intense mineral-honey character finds a perfect complement in La Rocca's hazelnut-cream register.

What grapes are in Pieropan Soave Classico La Rocca?

The blend is Garganega (100%). The wine is classified as Soave Classico DOC.

Tags

dry garganega high acid iconic low tannin medium body medium term mood contemplative mood elegant occasion cellar occasion dinner party occasion special old vines old world pairs with shellfish pairs with truffles pairs with white fish price premium single vineyard still white

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