November 15, 2002:
The WINE SPECTATOR taste and evaluate the following two wines by Tenuta Rocca:
2000 DOC Tenuta Rocca Ornati Langhe Rosso: Score: 88
Complex aromas of crushed raspberries, currants and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied, with lovely silky tannins and a fresh fruity finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo and Barbera. Best after 2003. (JS)

2000 DOC Tenuta Rocca Vigna Roca Neira Barbera d'Alba: Score: 87
Grapey and fruity, with roses, flowers and berries. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a polished, smooth finish. Drink now. (James Suckling)

2001 Tenuta Rocca Barbera d'Alba: Score: 84.

Nov. 30, 2002: Cont'd The Wine Spectator:
1998 Tenuta Rocca Barolo: score 87
2001 Vigna Sorì Rocca Dolcetto d'Alba: score 79
1999 Vigna Sorì Ornati Nebbiolo d'Alba : score 86.

November 7, 2002: Merum, 05/02 issue: By Andreas Maerz:
1998 Tenuta Rocca Barolo: *** (excellent product within its category): Light brilliant ruby red not intense, but very deep taste of jam from ripe red fruits and also fresh berries. Fruity, a cosy start, fine wood and tannin, fruit again in the end.

October 17, 2002: B!Vino by Franco Ziliani suggests Tenuta Rocca Vigna Sorì Ornati Nebbiolo d'Alba as the ideal wine to go with Alba white truffle.

September 1, 2002: Vinum, in German, for the Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

1998 Barolo tasting: Rocca - Tenuta Rocca - 15,5 - Ruby red, diffuse aroma, nose still closed with metallic and mineral components, much more clearly distinct at the palate, with tannins still evident and with a fruity and spicy finish. It can be aged. From 2004 to 2008.

August 30, 2002: At the Italian Newsagents for the moment, then it will be published also abroad, the first number of the collection "The Best Wines of Italy" by Nichi Stefi, in cooperation with "Veronelli Editore": Tenuta Rocca appears with the image of its 2000 Barbera Vigna Roca Neira and the following note by the Author: "The most interesting wine from this winery is probably the Ornati Langhe Rosso, wine elevated in barrique - 3.000 bottles approx made - , but undoubtedly important is their Barolo as well as a cru of Nebbiolo d'Alba Vigna Sorì Ornati, traditionally vinificated in big Slavonian oak, and the Vigna Ròca Neira Barbera d'Alba.

August 7, 2002: Merum, issue no. 03/02: Andreas Maerz have indicated our 2000 vintage Vigna Sorì Ornati Nebbiolo d'Alba DOC as: ***/JLF (very good representative within its appellation/the emptiest the bottle, the better the wine): Mature red of average depth, fine and inviting notes of violets, red and fresh berries,
underwood, nice wood, ripe fruits; elegant in your mouth, persistant its fruit, medium bodied with fine tannins, very fruity and long: en elegant Nebbiolo of fine fine texture, to be drunk 2002/2005.


June 14, 2002: Our "2000 DOC Vigna Roca Neira Barbera d'Alba" - I quote - "has proved to possess superior analytic-technical quality standards" and therefore "has deserved to be included in the 2003 Yearbook of the best Italin Wines" by Italian wine writer Luca Maroni.
In November the Yearbook will be officially presented in Rome.

June 1, 2002:
Italian journalist Othmar Kiem has published the results of his TENUTA ROCCA Ornati and Riflessi tasting in the prestigious "Falstaff Magazin" (Essen-Trinken-Reisen):
1999 Ornati: 88/100:
Ruby-violet intense red, seductive and attractive bouquet of bitter chocolate and ripe cherries; deep and juicy palate, percievable sweet tannins and long lasting finish.
1998 Riflessi: 85/100:
Deep brilliant ruby red colour, bouquet reminding you of black and ripe berries, some licorice and smoke. It has a very important structure in the beginning, then the alcohol is percievable and the finish is of pleasantly bitter fine tannins.

May 23, 2002:
In the occasion of the London Trade Fair it was announced that we were awarded the SILVER MEDAL at The International Wine Challenge Competition with our 1999 DOC Vigna Roca Neira Barbera d'Alba

May 13, 2002:
1998 Barolo: Alba Wines Exhition - the tasting.
"Among the positive experiences I wish to point out the perfomance (...) of Tenuta Rocca of Monforte with a good Barolo with an ecxellent quality/price ratio". Franco Ziliani gives 3.5 points out of 4 to our 1998 Tenuta Rocca Barolo.

May 12, 2002:
Langhe DOC Ornati 2000 - Tenuta Rocca
Bright new the 2000 version of the Langhe Ornati, not any longer a Cabernet Sauvignon 100%, but a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon(50%), Nebbiolo (25%) and Barbera (25%).
The wine we tasted is a sample taken from the barrel for the Vinitaly exhibition, as intense and persistent as in the past, with an excellent bouquet, important notes, rich and very clean at the same time, and much more of fruits than in the previous vintage. Of notable structure, the bouquet is always accompanied by very fine sensations reminding you of violet and haematite; the description is completed by notes of balsamic berries of eucalyptus and licorice. Maximum expression of a range of products all of a very high quality level for this winery of Monforte d'Alba.

May 4, 2002:
POLITIKEN - (The biggest daily Neswpaper in Denmark) –
FOOD AND WINE Session by Journalist Henrik Steen Andersen
1999 Vigna Ròca Neira Barbera is awarded 5 glasses out of 6 with the following comment: Deep, dark, fat fruit. Mature grapes. Warm, reminding of coffee, cocoa. Big power with the right acidity and tannin. Full bodied without being heavy. Lots of alcohol and strong. Can be stored for several years.

May, 2002:
Decanter Magazine: Tenuta Rocca Barolo 1997: ***/***** (Recommended)

April 30, 2002: Ex vinis no. 64:
"The Tasting" of Daniel Thomases: 1999 Tenuta Rocca Vigna Roca Neira Barbera d'Alba DOC: 87, "Dark ruby red, spicy nose of and of sweet fruits, long and solid in the mouth, body of good texture, very fruity and fresh..."

March, 2002:
Elena Ercole, Commercial Manager for Tenuta Rocca is interviewed by Donna Sommelier - Europa.

January 10, 2002:
Guida "I Vini d'Italia 2002" di Alessandro Masnaghetti: Awards our wines with the following scores:
1999 Vigna Roca Neira DOC Barbera d'Alba : 15/17
1997 Tenuta Rocca DOCG Barolo : 14/18.5