# Barolo San Rocco (2020)

- **Producer:** Azelia
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Nebbiolo
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Later
- **Serving temperature:** 18–20 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** black plum, liquorice, black cherry, leather, tobacco, earth

## About this wine

The Barolo San Rocco 2020 is a 100% Nebbiolo from the Barolo DOCG appellation in Piedmont, Italy, specifically from the San Rocco vineyard in Serralunga d'Alba. Azelia, a fifth-generation family winery founded in 1920, produces this wine. The San Rocco vineyard is characterized by its deep clay soil and south-southwest exposure, contributing to the wine's powerful and structured profile, a hallmark of Serralunga d'Alba. The 2020 vintage benefited from a climate that promoted grape concentration and vibrant acidity.

## Interesting facts

- Serralunga d'Alba is nicknamed 'the cuirassier' for its powerful wines.
- The San Rocco vineyard soil is almost 100% clay.
- Azelia is a fifth-generation family winery.
- Vineyards in this area can be over 65 years old.

## Food pairing

The wine's robust tannins and full body are well-suited to rich, protein-heavy dishes, where the tannins can soften and integrate with the meat's fat and protein. The wine's dark fruit and savory notes complement earthy ingredients like mushrooms, herbs, and game.

## Wine making process

The Barolo San Rocco 2020 is produced from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts, followed by an extended maceration period of 55-60 days with a submerged cap. The wine then undergoes aging for 24 months in large oak casks (botti) of 25-50HL. Azelia practices organic viticulture, employing integrated pest management and minimal treatments, with cover crops sown between rows and no tilling of the soil.