2004 Paolo Scavino Barolo Riserva "Rocche Dell'Annunziata", Piedmont, Italy - 1.5L MAG

ABOUT THIS WINE

Rocche dell’Annunziata is the Barolo Riserva of the Scavino family. An historical, prestigious “grand cru” from La Morra village purchased in 1990.

The 2004 Barolo vintage is widely regarded as one of the best of the early 2000s and is often praised for its balance, structure, and aging potential. This year produced wines that reflect the classic style of Barolo, offering both depth and elegance with an emphasis on freshness, intensity, and fine tannins. The 2004 vintage is considered a standout year, delivering wines with a harmonious profile that can age beautifully for many years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The most remarkable thing about Enrico Scavino is that even today, this man ever longs to make better Barolo. Generations at the helm of his family estate, founded in 1921, have already proven him a leader in the qualitative advances that have occurred in the Barolo area. And yet, he has never stopped the experimentation that has always kept him on the avant-garde of the Langhe area. He continues to vinify his wines parcel by parcel, taking advantage of these small fermentations to try to make better wines. In fact, in 2007 Enrico has even designed and fabricated his own fermentation vessel, used exclusively on his Barolo, to improve the finesse of extraction from his nebbiolo. Now with his daughters Elisa and Enrica working with him full-time, it would seem possible for this statesman—contemporary of Domenico Clerico and Elio Altare—to take a step back. Instead, Enrico’s passion is further bolstered by the presence of the next generation! And speaking of family, I’d be remiss not to mention that Enrico’s first cousin and neighbor is Luigi Scavino of Azelia fame. Alfonso, father of Luigi, and his brother Paolo, father to Enrico, divided ownership of the 11 hectare Scavino farm in the 1950s, giving each an equal share of the famed Fiasco hill.

Winemaking at the estate has evolved over time—but the one constant, even from the days of Enrica and Elisa’s grandfather, was hygiene: the cleanliness of the winery and health of the grapes remain paramount. Technology has had its influence: Enrico recalls working the vineyards with oxen and horses, and said of the purchase of his first tractor “I couldn’t have been happier if my father had gifted me a Ferrari!” In 1993, rotofermentors arrived at the estate, and between 1996-1999, Slavonian casks were replaced with French oak—but barriques here were always and only used for the first 10 months of aging to help fix color before the wines were transferred to larger oak botti. The percentage of new oak has been much reduced from a height of 30% from the 1990s to 2004, to only 20% new from 2004 – 2008, 17% new in 2011 & 2012, and for the 2015 harvest they have even reduced to a further 14% new. Quality control is crucial. Scavino could make more wine—but the estate chooses to sell off from 10-30% of the production in bulk to maintain their super high standards. This small family farm—which essentially started with 5.5 hectares—now manages 29 hectares of vineyards, and regularly finds itself classified amongst the other top estates of the region.