2016 - Barolo Bricco Fiasco, Azelia

Of the four single-vineyard wines presented by Azelia, this is the only one that draws its fruit from Castiglione Falletto. The other three see fruit from Serralunga d'Alba. It makes sense then that the 2016 Barolo Bricco Fiasco marches to the beat of its own drum when compared to its siblings in this portfolio. This wine is set apart by the precision of its aromas and not by the overt power that you get in Serralunga d'Alba. Instead, you get linear and direct aromas of wild cherry, dried blueberry, smoke, licorice and crushed limestone. This Bricco Fiasco is beautifully assembled, elegant and laser-focused. Luigi Scavino's grandfather planted this vineyard in the 1940s, and the average age of the plants is 85 years old today. The site has more sand in its soils compared to Serralunga d'Alba, and this explains the bright fruity and sometimes floral characteristics of the wine. This is a 5,800-bottle release.

The 2016 Barolo Bricco Fiasco is a glorious wine. Sweet red cherry, mint, iron, rose petal and blood orange are some of the many aromas and flavors that grace this exquisite, beautifully layered Barolo. A wine of subtlety, nuance and grace, the 2016 has so much to offer. I don't remember ever tasting a Bricco Fiasco with this level of finesse and nuance. Two thousand sixteen is the first vintage in which the Bricco Fiasco is aged part in cask and part in barrique. All I can say is: Wow!

Castiglione Falletto. Tasted blind. Mid ruby. Nutty, malty cherry fruit with hints of Moroccan leather. Elegant, succulent fruit with hints of nutty oak and fantastic chew and grip on the finish. Very long and still youthful. (WS)