Azelia Barolo 2021

Cellar for up to 20 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. Azelia owner Luigi Scavino is the cousin and neighbour of the legendary Barolo producer Enrico Scavino and in recent years he has succeeded in transforming his estate into one of the leading lights of the Piedmont. Key changes have included moderating their use of oak to ensure that no more than 25% new oak barrels are used during the maturation period and the use of traditional large oak botti to further soften the impact of the oak. The estate is also farmed organically and all operations in the winery are performed manually. The Azelia Barolo is a blend of grapes from 40 year old vines planted on six different vineyards with the majority coming from the Cerretta and Broglio crus in Serralunga d'Alba and the remainder from Castiglione Falletto. This mosaic of terroirs helps to create a complex, multi-layered Barolo which combines power and intensity of flavour from the clay-based Serralunga d'Alba soils with grace and elegance from the calcareous soils of Castiglione Falletto. Delicate aromatics define the nose with hints of dark cherries, dried herbs and floral notes while on the palate there is a medium body, firm tannins, and intense dark fruit flavours balanced by a bright streak of acidity. This finely-balanced profile makes the wine an ideal match for a prime steak, game dishes or pasta served with a tomato-based sauce.