Azelia
Alba, Piedmont
Wines:
Dolcetto d’Alba Bricco dell’Oriolo 08
Langhe Nebbiolo 08
Barolo 05
Barbera d’Alba Punta 07
Barolo Bricco Fiasco 05
Barolo Margheria 05
Barolo San Rocco 05
Website:
Pronunciation:
ah-ZEH-lee’ah
Luigi Scavino, owner of the Azelia estate, is the cousin of Enrico Scavino, an old friend and owner-winemaker of Azienda Agricola Paolo Scavino, whose exceptional wines we represented for many years. Enrico’s greatest wine, of course, is his “Barolo Bric del Fiasc” (Piedmontese dialect for “Bricco Fiasco”) from the choice cru of the Castiglione Falletto township. So when Luigi, who produces Barolo from 2.5 adjacent hectares of Bricco Fiasco, contacted us, we jumped at the chance. The two cousins share the same rigorous principles when it comes to viticulture and grape selection. Both average only 35 hectolitres per hectare and, in difficult vintages, as much as the whole production is subject to declassification to non-cru Barolo or Nebbiolo. After a substantial renovation in the cellars, including plenty of new barrels, and with Enrico’s guidance, we, naturally, had another equally superlative Barolo from Bricco Fiasco.
But Azelia offers more. Quite unique are their 2.5 hectares of vineyard in the township of Montelupo, long famous for its Dolcetto. From this Luigi produces his stunning Dolcetto d’Alba “Bricco Oriolo”, one of the most impressive Dolcetto I have ever tasted and one hectare of Barbera, growing adjacent to the Bricco Fiasco Nebbiolo, yields a lovely, dark and rich wine. Last but not least, Luigi makes a regular Barolo (from vineyards planted in Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga) and three more single vineyard Baroli (from Serralunga): the amazing Barolo San Rocco – 1995 being the first released vintage and made from the 35 year old vines of the homonymous cru – to which the Barolo Riserva “Voghera Brea” – produced from 50-60 year old vines and made only in the best vintages – and a Barolo from the prized cru of Margheria have recently been added. A fruity and fresh Langhe Nebbiolo completes the range. In 2004 Barolo Bricco Fiasco ‘00 was rated among the 100 top wines in the world by “Wine Spectator.”
