Barolo, San Rocco, 2014
A different profile to the saline Margheria, more body and flesh. Rich flavours of bramble, kirsch, sweet spice and creme de mure. Full and powerful but beautifully framed by a fresher acidity than usual. This not only uplifts the rich flavours but serves to elongate the wonderful finish. An Azelia monopole San Rocco is a top notch Serralunga vineyard that faces south and south west, where the soils are practically 100% clay, a very hard compact grey clay. The vines are 60 years old and the wine is aged in the same way as the Bricco Fiasco, for 24 months in 10% new oak barriques.
critic reviews
The 2014 Barolo San Rocco is very expressive of the Serralunga d'Alba township that always shows darker and denser fruit characteristics compared to the other main growing areas of Barolo. This wine is aged in barrique for two years, of which only 10% is new oak. Your senses are treated to very attractive layers of dark fruit, spice, wet earth and grilled herb. The vines are 60 years old on average and show extra density and concentration as a result. It follows that the mouthfeel is proportionally denser and more structured as well.
Today, the 2014 Barolo San Rocco comes across as a bit monolithic - within the context of the vintage, of course. As always, San Rocco is distinguished by its deep center of fruit. Firm young Nebbiolo tannins enshroud this resonant, muscular Serralunga Barolo. It will be interesting to see if the 2014 gains a bit more midpalate finesse during its aging.