Name: Azelia Barolo Cerretta 2016 1.5Ltr
Brand: Azelia
SKU: 987146
Price: 292.03 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95.8 (5 reviews)

Winery

Azelia

Shop all from Azelia

Varietal

Nebbiolo

The Nebbiolo grape varietal is widely understood to be the fruit responsible for Italy's finest aged wines. However, its popularity and reliability as a grape which gives out outstanding flavors and aromas has led it to be planted in many countries around the world, with much success. These purple grapes are distinguishable by the fact that they take on a milky dust as they begin to reach maturity, leading many to claim that this is the reason for their unusual name, which means 'fog' in Italian. Nebbiolo grapes produce wines which have a wide range of beautiful and fascinating flavors, the most common of which are rich, dark and complex, such as violet, truffle, tobacco and prunes. They are generally aged for many years to balance out their characteristics, as their natural tannin levels tend to be very high.

Country

Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.

Region

Piedmont

Situated in the north-western part of Italy, the region of Piedmont is known worldwide and is highly respected for the quality of the wines produced there. Many of the most successful sub-regions in Piedmont produce many of the world's finest red wines, such as those made from the excellent Nebbiolo grape varietal in areas such as Barolo and Barbaresco. However, the historic wineries which typify this region use a relatively wide variety of grapes, including Dolcetto and Barbera for their red wines, which are typically aged and have a delightful velvety character. Piedmont isn't all about beautifully complex red wines, though, as it is also famed for high quality, elegant sparkling wines, notably the Asti wines made with the white Moscato grape. The region benefits from a range of terroirs which are often well expressed in the sparkling wines, and a wonderfully consistent climate ideal for vineyard cultivation.

Appellation

Barolo

Barolo’s star grape is Nebbiolo, a finicky yet expressive variety that reaches its zenith this unique terroir. The region’s distinct microclimates and soils contribute to Nebbiolo’s complexity, resulting in wines with robust tannins, high acidity, and exceptional aging potential. Barolo wines, often referred to as “the king of wines,” are characterized by their deep garnet hue and complex bouquet, offering aromas of roses, tar, truffles, and red fruit. The aging process is significant, requiring at least 38 months, with a minimum of 18 months spent in wooden casks. This meticulous craftsmanship results in wines that evolve beautifully over time, displaying a harmonious balance of power and finesse. For wine enthusiasts, exploring Barolo provides a captivating journey into the rich tapestry of Italian winemaking, showcasing the profound marriage of tradition, terroir, and Nebbiolo’s distinctive expression.

JS 97pts

James Suckling

Compact and very linear red with firm, polished tannins that are tightly compressed to create fine chewiness. The red fruit, flowers and minerals are impressive, too. A new wine from Azelia from this wonderful vineyard. Well done. Give it three to four years to come together. Drink after 2022.

VM 97pts

Vinous Media

The 2016 Barolo Cerretta brings together all the best elements of the Azelia house style. Powerful, dense and dark, the Cerretta has so much going for it. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice, menthol, sage and licorice all flesh out in the glass. Rich and potent in feel with tremendous nuance, the Cerretta is flat-out stunning. The Scavinos started by renting this parcel in 1995 and they re-planted it in 1996. For many years, all of this fruit went into the straight Barolo. Now, 25 years later, the estate has finally released its first single-vineyard Barolo off this site, and it is a stunner.

WA 96pts

Wine Advocate

The newest single-vineyard Barolo to be released by this estate in celebration of its centennial anniversary, the Azelia 2016 Barolo Cerretta offers a rich and slightly sweet quality of primary fruit with cherry, wild plum and summer fig. Like many wines from Serralunga d'Alba, the bouquet tends to unwind in broad, sweeping motions instead of the quickly paced crescendo of high notes that you get in Castiglione Falletto, for example. This wine washes over the palate with rich textural fiber (with very elegant tannins) and an open-knit fabric of dark cherry and blackberry aromas all framed by earthy tones of black truffle and iron ore. This wine represents the efforts of three decades of hard work. Luigi Scavino's father had long dreamed of making a Barolo from Cerretta, but the family waited 30 years to have old, well-established vines. Like the other Baroli from Azelia, fermentations see submerged cap, and skin maceration times are long, up to 60 days. The wine ages in large oak casks for 30 months. Only 3,600 bottles were made of this debut cru.

WS 95pts

Wine Spectator

Scents of rose, tar, cherry and black currant rise from the glass of this dense, supple red. Firm, polished tannins take hold as this evolves on the long finish. There is a purity and finesse here that will take some time to emerge. Best from 2024 through 2045.

DC 94pts

Decanter

After acquiring 2.5ha in Cerretta over 30 years ago, the Scavino family restructured the vineyard replanting it with a massal selection from Bricco Fiasco. They waited until the vines were mature before making this inaugural cru bottling, which was released in the spring of 2020 to commemorate the winery’s centennial year. It makes an instantaneous impression with its dynamic personality: animated and giving on the nose where exotic floral and intense rose notes meet ripe black cherry. Dark fruit tones shade the palate with underlying minerality lending an energetic lift. The tannins are dense yet finessed and will need a couple of years to relax their grip. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038.