Barolo 'San Rocco'

Score

95

"The Azelia 2016 Barolo San Rocco presents broad and sweeping aromatic brush strokes, and the tannins are pronounced in this wine from Serralunga d'Alba. This is probably the bottle you put at the back of your cellar while the others might occupy a more accessible spot for medium to long-term drinking. There is a shallow midpoint between the intensity of the bouquet and the wine's structured finale, but that mid-palate zone will certainly flesh out with more time in the bottle. This wine earns an extra point for longevity. San Rocco was the first vineyard purchased by Luigi Scavino's father in the early 1990s, and the vines are 65 years old on average today. Some 7,600 bottles were released."

Score

96

"Attractive aromas of dried flowers, red berries and tar follow through to a full body of gorgeous fruit and layers of ripe, fine tannins. Extremely long and chewy with a powdery sense to the tannins. Thought-provoking wine. Try after 2022."

Score

94

"Azelia's 2016 Barolo San Rocco shows terrific density and richness, but it is less aromatically expressive than most of the other 2016s in the range. Readers will have to give this at least a few years in bottle for the tannins to soften. Even in the early going, though, the 2016 is deep, powerful and loaded with pedigree. Now that most of Azelia's wines are aged in cask, the influence of small French oak is especially evident."

Score

95

"There is a lot of fruit ripeness in the 2015 Barolo San Rocco, with blackberry, wild berry, plush softness, spice and licorice. The fruit is nicely balanced and shows bright intensity. Located in Serralunga d'Alba, San Rocco was purchased by Luigi Scavino's father in the 1990s. The vines are 65 years old today. Some 6,600 bottles of this vintage were made."

Score

90

"This has an initially shy nose that eventually gives up delicate aromas suggesting French oak, mocha, exotic spice and a floral note. The assertive palate offers unripe sour cherry, blood orange and licorice alongside tightly knit, close-grained tannins."

Score

94

"A very vibrant and clearly defined nose with fresh and dried roses, woody aromas and light dried spices, as well as tar and fresh cherries. The succulent palate has a seamless build of fine, ripe tannins, carrying bright red-cherry flavor in attractively focused mode. So fresh at the finish. Try from 2022."

Score

93

"The 2015 Barolo San Rocco is the most potent and structured of the Azelia Barolos. Swaths of tannin enshroud this tightly wound, classically austere Barolo. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a few years. This is one of the more reticent young Barolos I have tasted at Azelia."