Azelia Barolo San Rocco 2008

The 2008 Barolo San Rocco bursts from the glass with an exciting melange of dark fruit, mocha, tar, smoke and licorice. The San Rocco is much more full-bodied and overtly intense than the Margheria in what is a very classic expression of this Serralunga site. Dark fruit, smoke, licorice and tar wrap around the building, muscular finish. In 2008 the San Rocco is big, dark and flat-out delicious. Anticipated maturity: 2018–2028.

Good medium red. Ripe aromas of red cherry, cinnamon and minerals.  At once silky and firm, with intense inner-mouth floral perfume to its dark fruit and mineral flavors. Compellingly sweet, dense wine that needs at least several more years in bottle to reveal its inherent complexity. Tannins are quite suave for a Serralunga Barolo.

A distinctive mint aroma leads off, with flavors of cherry, balsamic, mineral and tobacco unfolding on the palate. Linear in profile, showing fine intensity, balance and a fine aftertaste of cherry and mineral. Will require a few years to unwind. Best from 2015 through 2030.

A Nebbiolo wine from Piedmont in Italy. 2006 Azelia Barolo San Rocco 750ml

Full, deep red. Wild, musky aromas of raspberry, tobacco and marzipan. Silky and lush in the mouth, with an almost liqueur-like sweetness to the deep flavors of red fruits, marzipan and spices. This boasts compelling creaminess and excellent depth. F... Stephen Tanzers IWC. A Nebbiolo wine from Piedmont in Italy. 2006 Azelia Barolo San Rocco 750ml

Azelia’s best-known wine may be the Bricco Fiasco, but in 2001 as in other recent vintages I find the San Rocco even more compelling. It is more intense and masculine in its expression of Serralunga terroir, with a complex nose of smoke, scorched earth, minerals and spices. As it sits in the glass the wine opens, gradually revealing notes of rich dense dark fruit with plenty of structure, finishing with broad yet fine tannins and tremendous overall balance. It is an immensely satisfying modern-styled Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2009–2016.

Azeliaandrsquo;s best-known wine may be the Bricco Fiasco, but in 2001 as in other recent vintages I find the San Rocco even more compelling. It is more intense and masculine in its expression of Serralunga terroir, with a complex nose of smoke, scorched earth, minerals and spices. As it sits in the glass the wine opens, gradually revealing notes of rich dense dark fruit with plenty of structure, finishing with broad yet fine tannins and tremendous overall balance. It is an immensely satisfying modern-styled Barolo. Anticipated maturity: 2009andndash;2016.