Azelia Barolo San Rocco 2017

Fleshy, extremely focused. Here Serralunga d’Alba is present with signs of licorice, spices and dark fruits. Cherry, currant and blueberry melt harmoniously together. Velvety and sweetly ripe, with splendidly integrated tannins. San Rocco gives an impression of great power, austerity, with incredible aging potential.

94 Points - Vinous    The 2017 Barolo San Rocco is powerful and tightly wound. All of its energy is focused inward today. There is terrific brightness and focus to the red berry fruit, but the 2017 is not in a mood to show much today. Readers will have to be patient. I am encouraged by the wine's solid feel and pure power.

93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck    The 2017 Barolo San Rocco has aromas of leather, black cherry, cedar, and licorice. The palate is ripe up front and leads with black raspberry, baking spice, and balsamic. Consistent with gripping structure, these wines need time to unfurl.

92 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate    The Azelia 2017 Barolo San Rocco shows some tightness and firmness initially, but it ultimately reveals an open and accessible quality of fruit with dried raspberry, cherry and wild plum. Those fruit flavors take a sudden turn to embrace some of the more mineral aromas associated with Serralunga d'Alba, such as iron ore and rusty nail. This hot and dry vintage release of 7,500 bottles doesn't show the same depth or complexity that we saw in the classic 2016 growing season. Instead, this wine is fruit forward and a little more contoured and streamlined overall.