Aurelio Settimo, Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 2018

In addition to “regular” Barolo, we also produce a single vineyard “ROCCHE DELL’ANNUNZIATA”: one of the best area’s crus.

Here the vineyards looking out over the Torriglione hamlet – in the shelter of a “hollow” lying between the hills of San Martino and Cerequio-Brunate – are “kissed” by the sun from early morning till late in the afternoon.

The rich, clayey-calcareous soil of the ROCCHE combines with the altitude (approx. 270 m. a.s.l.) and position (south – south-west) to produce a Barolo which is full bodied, yet soft and very fragrant.

100% Nebbiolo.

This wine is intense garnet red, with amber reflections. Has a broad perfume, with notes of rose, violet, berries, red fruits, chocolate, vanilla and black pepper. In the mouth it appears soft and enveloping, with a still young but not aggressive tannin and a background of fine minerality, which highlights floral and balsamic notes.

Vinification: traditional, with fairly long macerations (must in contact with the submerged cap skins for about 15-20 days), frequent pumping over and punching down, aging in oak barrels, with a capacity from 2,500 to a maximum of 3,500 liters.
Temperature: controlled (27 ° – 28 ° C)
malolactic: turning point in concrete
Aging: traditional 36 months, including 18 in large French and Austrian oak barrels
Age of barrels: 1-20 years
Type of wood: French oak ( Allier and Nevers ) and Austrian oak ( Manhartsberg and Weidling )
Type of barrel: large barrel.

Ground: calcareous-clay
Exposure: South – Southwest
Harvest date: 25-26 / 09/2018.

Bottling date: 24/02/2022.

Number of bottles produced: 6,905 ( 750 ml ) + 503 ( magnum 1500 ml ) + 30 ( magnum 3000 ml ).

Aurelio’s parents settled in the Annunziata hamlet in 1943, in an old farmhouse built at the end of the 19th century.

Until 1962 they used to practice mixed farming, working the land (vineyards, fruit trees, hazelnuts) and breeding animals (hens, rabbits, cows). The grapes were sold to big local wineries, and just a small amount remained for the family to produce wine for themselves and friends and relatives.

At the end of the 1950s, Aurelio’s father began bottling some of the wine under the SETTIMO DOMENICO label. Aurelio had understood how special this land really was however, and when Domenico died in 1962 he decided to specialize in wine-growing.

Mixed farming and animal breeding were abandoned, the vineyards were extended, and the AURELIO SETTIMO label was introduced during 1962.

Though fraught with difficulties, this was the beginning of a new challenge, and a new home and winery were built amidst the family vineyards.

Until 1974, when Aurelio began extending the winery, 50% of the grapes grown on the estate continued to be sold to the larger local wineries. But since the 1974 vintage all the production has been vinified on site.

The Settimo family has continued to maintain a traditional product line, in particular as regards Barolo.

Since the death of Aurelio (March 2007), production and sales have been handled by his daughter Tiziana, who had long been assisting him in the running of the business.ù

The philosophy remains the same, however: to focus on QUALITY, in keeping with TRADITION.