A month in Barolo: A visit in the vineyard with Tiziana Settimo at Aurelio Settimo
Tasted Thursday, May 15, 2025 by David Paris with 96 views
Introduction
This wine thing is its most beautiful and exhilarating when the most unexpected, unplanned visit turns out to be a true highlight, and peak exploratory experience. That was my visit with Tiziana Settimo of Aurelio Settimo, who I visited entirely because I learned she owns and farms the Nebbiolo vines in the MGA Annunziata that I stare out my window at every day and sleep 10 feet away from. It was a six minute walk up the street for the visit. I had never had the wines before, and somewhat embarrassingly, hadn’t heard of the producer before (it’s never been in my market). Tiziana is the third generation farming and making wine from this land, now joined by her son Davide to mark the fourth generation. Settimo holds the second most land in the famous Rocche dell’Annunziata, second only to the (in)famous Roberto Voerzio, and Settimo hold some of the most prime locations: the top of the hill and the whole middle section. Production has stayed traditional here from the beginning, aging only in 25-35HL botti, with none of this modernism experimentation.
I must say... the tasting experience was one of the most surprising I’ve ever had (perhaps due to no expectations one way or another), and across the board, one of the best lineups I’ve had on this trip. I tasted 10 red wines, including 8 Barolos, and not a single one scored below 91 to my palate. That includes a 10€ Dolcetto, which oh by the way, 50% of which is grown from old vines in the Historical Barolo Cru of Arborina (which Elio Altare makes a $100 Barolo from), the rest in the Barolo MGA of Annunziata. Perhaps it’s the soils here (Tiziana kept mentioning it was), but there’s this absolutely incredible bright red strawberry tone to all of these wines. It started with the Rosato of Nebbiolo and Dolcetto and I expected it to just be that... but it carried right onto the Nebbiolo d’Alba (which comes from the youngest vines in Annunziata, the ones I sleep next to!), and then onto the Barolos. All of the Barolos exhibited this incredibly fresh red strawberry note, but all of the complexity and structure one would expect in a traditional Barolo. It was incredible. And delicious! Even in their relative youth. It was one of the most consistent line ups I've had. Even in the most challenging vintages, like 2017, the vineyard character shown through. One of the things I love most about a Burlotto Monvigliero is this incredible high toned strawberry note coupled with all the glorious, layered structural depth of the best of classical Barolo, which has seemed so singular to that exact wine. But we definitely have some of that here...
What a find this place was for me! This is an important, under the radar producer that I'd encourage people to follow as I suspect they may become the next to be discovered. Thank you Tiziana, for your beautiful spirit, your generosity, and for making such elegant Barolos.
2024 Aurelio Settimo SÉTT Rosato 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Vino da Tavola
This is a beautiful 50/50 blend of Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, and is the free-run juice from those vats after two hours of skin contact. The color is the most electric, fluorescent color I think I've ever seen in a Rose. Nearly a red wine, but so gorgeous neon looking. Bottled in beautiful clear glass, she only sells this wine at the winery. The aromas are almost candied fruit in character, and just show red berries for days. Lighter on the body than I expected, showing fresh clean red berries, though still certainly very juicy and delicious. Really juicy on the finish, showing great acid integration... but still... it's about that juice. Wish I could always have this on hand for summer pool parties. It's lovely!
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2021 Aurelio Settimo Dolcetto d'Alba 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Dolcetto d'Alba
This is a stunning Dolcetto. Fifty percent of the fruit comes from the La Morra Barolo cru of Arborina, the oldest vines of which were planted 47 years ago (1978), and the youngest 1986. I think this wine was only 10 euros at the winery. Unbelievable quality at that level. The aromas are very pretty, but tight, showing a slightly green, herbal character, but also really pretty red toned fruit. But it does come across a little underripe in the fruit tone on the nose. Soft, pretty, mellow integrated palate feel, showing really pretty red fruits and complete structural integration, which is rare for a Dolcetto. Juicy red fruits are present to appose the structural elements, but it's very lovely. Some slightly green notes on the finish, with amazing acidic structure. Very pretty, and oh so well integrated. What lovely fruit! One of the finest, if not the single finest Dolcetto I've ever had. A lovely wine.
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2022 Aurelio Settimo Langhe Nebbiolo 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
This was bottled in February of 2025, and aged all in steel. The aromas are very fruit forward, and nearly candied in nature. That forward red fruit transfers onto the palate, which is very brightly red fruited. The tannins only come in after a few seconds and start getting things a little bitter as you hold it in the mouth. Best with smaller, quicker sips to let it be all about the glorious red fruit. The finish shows strong tannins again, but that incredible red fruit and acidic intensity balance things out beautifully. One of the better Langhe Nebbiolo of the trip (tied amongst my favorites).
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2020 Aurelio Settimo Barolo 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Very pretty, floral nose, with quite a lot of red berry poking through as well. Really soft and elegant palate, with pretty, soft tannins building. But again, wow, the red fruited berries just seem so strong for such a young Barolo (this being my first here, I was pleased to see that character brought through to all of them). I absolutely love the fruit on this wine. Bitter drying tannins and puckering acidity on the finish, without as much of the red fruit on display here, but it's still there. What a beautiful, young Barolo, that's actually drinking as one of the better 2020s I had on the trip. The wine is so well integrated already.
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2020 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Yet again, incredibly fruit forward on the nose, showing juicy fruit, almost like gummy bears on the nose. As I learned, the Rocche here tends to trend in that direction, which is delicious for me! Really pretty fruit hits first on the palate, and the structure then comes in quickly. The wine is very juicy, but still compact at present on the palate, showing really great intensity. Strong structure and very tight and compact on the finish compared to the nose. Very elegant structure carries it long at the end. A lovely wine in 2020.
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2019 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
This one isn't quite as fruit forward and juicy as the 2020 was, as it lacks a bit of the exuberance from that warmer vintage. That said, the aromas are more typical of what 2019 expresses, and it's all beautifully integrated. Really mellow, soft palate entry, showing extreme elegance and a lot of beauty. The wine feels utterly confident on the palate, so beautifully integrated with all its structural elements. More fruit forward than the nose would have indicated, that fruit and structure integration is a rare feat in young Barolo. Incredible depth and evolution on the long, long finish. This is absolutely a very serious Barolo on hand, here. So lovely. This ties as both one of the highest scoring wines of my trip, and one of the least expensive. What a killer combination.
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2018 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
The fruit is no longer as exuberant as it has been with the youngest vintages up to this point, but still lovely. Soft fruit on the palate, with a round texture. Good purity of classy red fruits that feels back to being beautifully integrated with the structure, and not as "mature" as I thought it may present based on the nose. Lovely strength on the finish, with beautiful orange peel and pleasing soft red fruits. Really good lingering fruit and quite grippy on the finish.
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2017 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
2017 was a warmer, more challenging vintages out of the lot that I got to try today, and Tiziana absolutely excelled in this vintage! I was shocked as it was my second favorite of the young Barolos I got to try. What a beautiful 2017! Here we are back to the very pretty, incredibly deep red toned strawberry fruit on the nose with spicy acidity and tar present as well. So beautiful on the nose. Strawberry pie notes on the palate, which comes across surprisingly fruit forward, but not in a problematic way because the fruit is so bright and red toned, and it's all integrated wonderfully with the structure. Lovely, very pretty on the finish, with those incredible berry tones running deep into the finish. All these Barolos have some of the purest berry flavors I've ever experienced in Barolo, and perhaps the 2017 Rocche tops the scales in that realm.
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2019 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Bottled in February of this year. We are yet again back to the very pretty and delicious smelling berry flavored gummy bears on the nose... so yummy. The palate is soft, round and pure in texture. Lovely elegance, and certainly the structure feels stronger than the regular 2019 Rocche. Impressive structural attack on the finish, showing great strength. A really beautiful wine, if rather tight. The regular Rocche drinks better today, but this may be the wine for 20 years from now.
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2016 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Such a treat to get to taste multiple great vintages of the Rocche Riserva. The 2016 came across as similarly pretty as the 2019, but even more approachable on the nose with less of the imposing structure present. The palate is soft and mild, showing good intensity and minerals. Puckering acid present. Really lovely fruit on the finish, but it's still quite tight. Perhaps in a bit of its middle aged shutdownness. But the stuffing is certainly here.
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2004 Aurelio Settimo Barolo Riserva Rocche 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
As I was sharing with Tiziana how wonderful I thought the red fruit character was in her wine, we began a discussion about aging Barolo, and when she likes drinking hers. She started telling me a story about how earlier in the week they opened up a bottle of 2004 Barolo Rocche Riserva and how beautifully it was drinking, with an almost youthful character. I love the 2004 vintage in Barolo. As she was talking she paused for a moment, and left the room. I thought, "well OK, I guess I'll just keep drinking what's in my glass." She reemerged a few moments later with the bottle of 2004 Rocche Riserva in hand, with a cork in it and a measly 3 oz in the bottom. She told me how the bottle was opened 6 days ago (she checked the note written on the bottle), so was unsure how it was. She poured the glass, smelled it, smiled, and set it in front of me. OK, that's bold for leaving such a tiny amount in a bottle for 6 days. But... yes indeed, somehow, nothing seems out of place here. If this was drinking this well on day 6, I can't imagine how good it was with the decant on day one! The aromas are very pure, and well integrated. Doesn't feel old in the slightest. Really pretty, soft palate entry, showing incredible elegance and class. Lovely integration of the still present structural elements, complete with lovely red fruits. Red toned fruit are very pretty and beautifully integrated on the finish, which shows killer acid and an incredible mushroom streak. I'd say drinking absolutely wonderfully, as the best 2004s are at present. A special wine and experience to get to share.
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