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Barolo - New and Old
The 2018 Brovia and Azelia barolos have scored very well with the wine-writers, and since they arrived in Australia a few days ago, we have tasted some to our great and delightful surprise. We are in awe of these new releases!
We are also offering a few very well-cellared old Barolos with excellent fill-levels (ex- a cool cellar in Piedmont).
Cheers, Randall
Cheers, Randall
Fontanafredda 1967 Barolo
Offer: $390
"Raspberry, cherries, old camphor chests, spice box, licorice root, roses – very complex, yet curiously youthful and vibrant. Medium bodied, barest twitch of volatility, very fine tannin, sweet fruit, fennel and a long finish with a gentle tug of tannin to close. Delicacy and power, combined with a sweet succulence and the gentle decay of age. This bottle, at least, at the peak of its powers. What a privilege to taste such glorious old wines." 97pts! - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, tasted 2015
Borgogno 1978 Barolo Riserva
Offer: $590
"A long-lived vintage, this 1978 is showing well for its age with its still-fresh acidity and intense yet delicate, savoury flavours of caramelised nuts, dried red berries, cigar, coffee beans and crème brûlée. Red berry sweetness and fine tannins provide balance on the long, gentle finish." 95pts - James Button, Decanter, tasted 2022
Marchesi di Barolo 1983 Barolo
Offer: $220
This famed and ancient producer is based in the village of Barolo itself. 1983 was a warm vintage, making a very small crop.
Brovia
Piedmont, Italy
Each year it seems that the Brovia family continue to improve their already great and captivating wines. They are so complex, firmly silky and clean, deep, and so long that they have a Burgundian-like peacock's tail finish. Cheers, Randall
The Real Review listed the top 170 barolos of 2018
#2/170 is Azelia Ceretta
#5/170 is Brovia Brea Ca’Mia
#8/170 is Brovia Rocche di Castiglione
#9/170 is Azelia Bricco Fiasco
#10/170 is Azelia Margheria
#37/170 is Azelia San Rocco
#55/170 is Azelia Barolo (Ahead of Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Rinaldi Brunate and Tre Tine!)
#2/170 is Azelia Ceretta
#5/170 is Brovia Brea Ca’Mia
#8/170 is Brovia Rocche di Castiglione
#9/170 is Azelia Bricco Fiasco
#10/170 is Azelia Margheria
#37/170 is Azelia San Rocco
#55/170 is Azelia Barolo (Ahead of Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Rinaldi Brunate and Tre Tine!)
In 1863 Giacinto Brovia founded the Brovia estate in Castiglione Falletto - the heart of Barolo. Giacinto's two grandchildren (Raffaele, an agronomist and the younger Giacinto, an oenologist) resumed full-scale wine production in the 1950s. The reins of the estate are now in the hands of Giacinto's daughter Elena and her husband Alex Sanchez, who are deeply engaged in the organic vineyards and winemaking operations of the estate.
With ownership of mature well-sited vines in some of the best crus in all Barolo, winemaking here is very classical, with grapes crushed gently before being fermented in open-top vats for up to a month. They are then transferred into 30 hectolitre French and Slavonian oak barrels where they are rested for at least two years. They are bottled unfiltered and then rested in bottle for up to another two years before release.
With the entire estate averaging 45 years of vine age, many of the Barolo vines are over 60 years. They are tended with great care, practicing organic viticulture and ploughing yearly to promote soil health. The low yields are controlled by a program of severe pruning and de-budding. Harvest is done entirely by hand.
Brovia 2018 Barolo
RRP: $179 | Offer: $149!
"The Brovia 2018 Barolo is a classic wine with a smooth and silky mouthfeel that is brightened by cassis, dried cherry, tar, licorice and campfire ash. The firm tannins give ample support and contribute to the wine’s considerable length." 93pts - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Brovia 2018 Barolo 'Garblet Sue'
RRP: $279 | Offer: $235!
MAGNUM: $529
Limited
This formidable cru (also referred to as “Fiasco”, cf. the Azelia below!) is in Castiglione Falletto on south facing slopes at over 250 meters on limestone soils. The site is 0.7 hectare with vines planted in 1970 and 1979.
This formidable cru (also referred to as “Fiasco”, cf. the Azelia below!) is in Castiglione Falletto on south facing slopes at over 250 meters on limestone soils. The site is 0.7 hectare with vines planted in 1970 and 1979.
"The Brovia 2018 Barolo Garblèt Sue' reveals a fine texture with seamless aromas of purple and red forest fruits that appear delicately and softly. Those lifted primary notes are followed by a filigree of spice, tar, truffle and fragrant earth. The wine closes with a pretty floral note that is a mix of rose and violet. This is one of the most elegant wines of the vintage." 95pts! - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Brovia 2018 Barolo 'Ca' Mia'
RRP: $345 | Offer: $289!
MAGNUM: $599
Limited
From the heart of Serralunga d’Alba, this is a one-hectare vineyard planted to Nebbiolo in 1955. The exposure is southeast and the altitude is 350 meters.
From the heart of Serralunga d’Alba, this is a one-hectare vineyard planted to Nebbiolo in 1955. The exposure is southeast and the altitude is 350 meters.
"The wine is very pale ruby in colour with an intense aroma of violet and red currants which then opens up to reveal sweet, exotic spices with touches of linden tree and camphor depth. This interpretation exhibits elegant tannins, between chalk and dust in terms of texture, with crisp acidity and a good, slightly bitter finish which imparts character and length to the wine." 95pts! - Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter
Brovia 2018 Barolo 'Rocche di Castiglione'
RRP: $345 | Offer: $289!
MAGNUM: $599
Limited
The famous “Rocche,” in Castiglione Falletto expresses the elegant, "feminine" side of Barolo, always the most aromatic and sensual of the crus from Brovia. The sandy soil composition is in stark contrast to the soil underlies its neighbours in Castiglione Falletto. The Brovia parcel (1.5 hectares) of this vineyard faces southeast and sits at 350 metres above sea level! The vines were planted in 1966.
The famous “Rocche,” in Castiglione Falletto expresses the elegant, "feminine" side of Barolo, always the most aromatic and sensual of the crus from Brovia. The sandy soil composition is in stark contrast to the soil underlies its neighbours in Castiglione Falletto. The Brovia parcel (1.5 hectares) of this vineyard faces southeast and sits at 350 metres above sea level! The vines were planted in 1966.
"Alex Sanchez makes memorable wines. His Brovia 2018 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione hits close to home, as this vineyard in Castiglione Falletto is especially elegant and well managed. The wine shows pinpoint precision with small berry nuances, wildflower and crushed stone. The mineral signature adds beautiful focus." 95pts! - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Brovia 2018 Barolo 'Villero'
RRP: $345 | Offer: $289!
MAGNUM: $599
This 1.5 hectare vineyard in this "grand cru" of Barolo faces southwest at an altitude of 340 metres above sea level. The vines were planted in 1961.
"The 2018 Barolo Villero is laser sharp and etched with ferrous mineral notes next to wild berry, cherry, cola, campfire ash and grilled rosemary. This elegant, mid-weight wine shows a very long finish and should not disappoint on the cellar-aging front. It should hold well past the 20-year mark." 95+pts! - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Azelia
Piedmont, Italy
"These are among my favorite wines to drink... Azelia remains one of the undiscovered jewels in Barolo." - Antonio Galloni
"Thought-provoking wine." - James Suckling
The Real Review listed the top 170 Barolos of 2018
#2/170 is Azelia Ceretta
#5/170 is Brovia Brea Ca’Mia
#8/170 is Brovia Rocche di Castiglione
#9/170 is Azelia Bricco Fiasco
#10/170 is Azelia Margheria
#37/170 is Azelia San Rocco
#55/170 is Azelia Barolo (Ahead of Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Rinaldi Brunate and Tre Tine!)
I have been enamoured with the Azelia wines since my first visit to the Scavino family's pristine cellars well over a decade ago. Luigi and his son Lorenzo are obsessive about obtaining ripe bunches that are as perfect as possible - this is the foundation of their impressive and honest wine making. Luigi only accepts grapes from vines over 35yo for Azelia Barolo. This admirable insistence is married perfectly with their sympathetic vinification (including a non-reliance on new/small-format oak) and their excellently sited holdings in their great crus. These are all reasons for greatness generally, but the Scavino family bring an 'X-factor' that makes their Azelia wines greater than the sum of their parts. Randall.
#2/170 is Azelia Ceretta
#5/170 is Brovia Brea Ca’Mia
#8/170 is Brovia Rocche di Castiglione
#9/170 is Azelia Bricco Fiasco
#10/170 is Azelia Margheria
#37/170 is Azelia San Rocco
#55/170 is Azelia Barolo (Ahead of Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Rinaldi Brunate and Tre Tine!)
I have been enamoured with the Azelia wines since my first visit to the Scavino family's pristine cellars well over a decade ago. Luigi and his son Lorenzo are obsessive about obtaining ripe bunches that are as perfect as possible - this is the foundation of their impressive and honest wine making. Luigi only accepts grapes from vines over 35yo for Azelia Barolo. This admirable insistence is married perfectly with their sympathetic vinification (including a non-reliance on new/small-format oak) and their excellently sited holdings in their great crus. These are all reasons for greatness generally, but the Scavino family bring an 'X-factor' that makes their Azelia wines greater than the sum of their parts. Randall.
Azelia 2018 Barolo
RRP: $112 | Offer: $104!
"Deep, spicy red-fruit character on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied and firm, so give it a couple of years to open up. There’s a lot under the surface. Try from 2024." 92pts - James Suckling
"Luigi Scavino's classic Barolo shows a sweet spot on the bouquet with baked cherry and sweet plum... Nebbiolo crispness and plenty of wild berry flavors. There are earthy notes on the close with some light spice." 90pts - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Azelia 2018 Barolo 'Bricco Fiasco'
RRP: $262 | Offer: $223!
1.5ha plot at the top of a steep hill in Castiglione Falletto. Average vine age 85 years. South exposure, 285 metres above sea level. Aged 24 months in large casks.
"The 2018 Barolo Bricco Fiasco reveals a dark and brooding character with dark fruit, iron ore, rusty earth, tar and licorice. It shows enormous precision and sharpness, especially in terms of the bouquet, with tight tannins and nice acidity." 94pts - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Azelia 2018 Barolo 'Margheria'
RRP: $262 | Offer: $223!
1.9ha plot in Serralunga d'Alba. Average vine age is 60 years. SSW exposure, 250-360 metres above sea level. Aged 30 months in large casks. "The 2018 Barolo Margheria opens to a wide range of savory aromas with dark fruit, pressed rose, crushed stone and rusty nail. Those rusty or ferrous notes are typical of Nebbiolo wines from Serralunga d'Alba. The wine is tight and firm in texture with a polished and very linear style." 94pts - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Azelia 2018 Barolo 'San Rocco'
RRP: $262 | Offer: $223!
From a 2.1ha plot in Serralunga d'Alba. Average vine age 65 years. South exposure, 320 metres above sea level. Aged 24 months in large casks.
"I like the focused aromas of red-berries and sea shell-like minerals, which are starting to latch onto the very fine but chewy tannins on the medium-bodied palate. Focused, but a bit tight to drink just now. Give it some time to open up. Try from 2024." 93pts - James Suckling
"With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, the 2018 Barolo San Rocco offers a mix of fruit, floral and earthy aromas. These are some of the cornerstones of fine Nebbiolo, and this vintage does a good job of balancing out these various elements. The San Rocco is more accessible and can be enjoyed in the medium-term if you don't want to wait." 93pts - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
Azelia Barolo 'Cerretta'
RRP: $321 | Offer: $273! (Very limited)
From a 2.5ha plot purchased 30 years ago by the Scavino family. Vines planted were produced by grafting a selection of the very best old vines from the Bricco Fiasco, Luigi had always wanted to produce Barolo from this site, owing to its exceptional character and impeccable vines, but only chose to do so after 2016 when the vines were deemed sufficiently mature. SSW exposure, 355 metres above sea level. Aged 30 months in large casks.
"Rather exotic nose, offering earthy, ripe strawberries, together with fruity spice, smoked mackerel and wild, foresty notes. Medium-to full-bodied with a compact palate of complex flavors and lightly firm tannins... Really good for the vintage. Best from 2024." 95pts! - James Suckling
"The Azelia 2018 Barolo Cerretta is a bold and powerful expression with dark fruit, grilled herb and ferrous notes of rusty iron that stand out strong in this hot vintage. The wine tastes firm and almost salty on the palate with long, polished tannins. This bottle is a shiny gem in this estate portfolio." 95pts! - Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate
n transferred into 30 hectolitre French and Slavonian oak barrels where they are rested for at least two years. They are bottled unfiltered and then rested in bottle for up to another two years before release.
With the entire estate averaging 45 years of vine age, many of the Barolo vines are over 60 years. They are tended with great care, practicing organic viticulture and ploughing yearly to promote soil health. The low yields are controlled by a program of severe pruning and de-budding. Harvest is done entirely by hand.
16 products
16 products
