100 Years Young!

When I turn 100 years old, I’m going to take a couple days off.

Not Azelia. For this storied Barolo producer founded in 1920 by Lorenzo Scavino (the O.G.), turning 100 opens a vibrant new chapter.

Indeed, to mark Azelia's centennial this year, Luigi and Lorenzo Scavino debuted their new Barolo Cru, Cerretta, a true labor of love that took 30 years in the making.

Out of the gate Cerretta has been a huge success with 97 points from both Parker and Vinous.

If Azelia was known as "one of Barolo's hidden gems" (as Galloni once put it), the world is catching on.

Last year, their Barolo Margheria '15 ranked #25 among Italy's top 50 wines in a blind tasting of 450 wines by a panel of international experts. And 5th generation Lorenzo Scavino—who truly works side by side with his father in the vineyards—is a social media natural who makes it easy for Azelia stand out in a crowd.

Oh, and Azelia's unwavering practices of organic farming, no fining or filtering since 1920 are totally "on trend" now and just another reason the wines resonate with the younger generation.

The question becomes not whether Azelia—but which? Each of Azelia's 5 Barolo Crus offers a distinct style that comes through in the glass.

Bricco Fiasco is the family's historical single vineyard last planted in 1940 by the elder Lorenzo Scavino. It was first released as a single Cru in 1978, and was one of the first in Barolo to do so.

San Rocco is the family's oldest site in Serralunga d'Alba, with vines now 65 years old. It's my personal favorite.

Margheria is enjoying celebrity status for its ranking as one of Italy's top 50 wines.

Bricco Voghera, a treacherously steep vineyard with prephyloxera vines that yield miniscule amounts of concentrated fruit, is dedicated to the riserva.

Cerretta was lovingly planted 30 years ago with selection massale from the family's flagship Bricco Fiasco.

And of course,

Barolo "normale", which is a blend of 7 crus and year after year one of the best value Barolos in its class.