2016 Azelia Barolo (750ml)

"The transformation at Azelia over the last handful of years has been nothing short of extraordinary. That's not to say the wines weren't compelling before. They were, and they also aged well. But recent vintages have really gone to another level. Since 2014, Luigi Scavino and his son, Lorenzo, have taken these wines into a direction of extreme finesse. The Barolos now see 55-60 days on the skins, with submerged cap fermentation. Two thousand sixteen was the first vintage in which the Bricco Fiasco and San Rocco were aged partly in cask. By 2018 both of those wines saw only large format oak, as is the case with the other Barolos in the range. Readers will note the addition of a new wine, the Barolo Ceretta. Timing, as they say, is everything. The Scavinos certainly timed their 100th anniversary brilliantly. These wines are spectacular." - Antonio Galloni (Vinous)

"This is an ultra fine Barolo with cherries, spice, cedar and hints of dried flowers on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied, yet reserved, very caressing and fine-grained. A thoroughly beautiful young 2016. Drink or hold." 94 points - James Suckling (September 2020)

"Azelia's 2016 Barolo is a blend of fruit from two parcels in Castiglione Falletto and five in Serralunga, with the character of Serralunga especially felt in the wine's tannic grip and persistence. Iron, sage, mint, smoke and wild cherry give the Barolo striking aromatic nuance and complexity, all in the mid-weight style that is such a signature at this address. The purity of the fruit is just striking. Stated simply, this is a tremendous wine in its peer group." 93 points - Antonio Galloni (Vinous, November 2019)

"Azelia's classic 2016 Barolo shows a spicy or savory personality with accents of laurel leaf, eucalyptus and clove. Those are some of the high notes that hover over a core of dark fruit and dried blackberry. On the Nebbiolo scale, this wine takes us to a sultry side of the variety, with slightly more fruit weight, texture and pronounced black fruit. If you are choosing your Barolo according to a possible pasta or meat pairing, this would be the meat wine. Azelia's classico Barolo is a blend of fruit from seven single vineyards, with 30% of the total from Castiglione Falletto and 70% from Serralunga d'Alba. A big portion comes from the Cerretta and Broglio sites, with 50-year-old vines. About 29,000 examples were produced." 93 points - Monica Larner (Wine Advocate, July 2020)