Figli Luigi Oddero Barolo 2017

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Luigi Oddero

Since 1878 the Oddero family has been synonymous with tradition and high quality Nebbiolo wines from the Langhe’s top vineyards, and it was in 1951 when brothers Giacomo and Luigi Oddero began bottling their family’s wines.

Like so many of the great estates of the world Luigi Oddero, although, born only recently, through a family divide, has an incredible history. Once a combined estate with Oddero, Luigi went his separate way, taking with him an incredible set of vineyards across 32 hectare of prime vineyards, including Castiglione Falletto’s Rocche dei Rivera & Serralunga d’Alba’s Vigna Rionda.

With Luigi’s loss in 2010, Lena Oddero (nata Gavrilova) is now managing the estate, aided by her faithful team of Francesco Versio ex-Giacosa  & Dante Scaglione still consulting to Bruno Giacosa. The wines are traditionally and respectfully made in stainless-steel & cement tanks, & then aged in large Gamba oak botti. Their fruit is grown in the villages of Treiso (for Barbaresco), La Morra, Barolo, Castiglione Falletto and Serralunga d’Alba.

Below from top left clockwise: Harvest at Vigna Rionda, A bunch of Nebbiolo from Vigna Rionda, Unloading fruit, Aerative Pumpover of Rocche Rivera, Francesco Versio tasting a Botti, Rack, aeration and return of maturing Barolo in Botti.

Now with Luciano Botti, still looking after the vineyards, and, Francesco Versio and Dante Scaglione, alumni of Bruno Giacosa looking after the wine the new-old estate is going from strength to strength.

The two Cru wines available in Australia, an epic Riserva from Vigna Rionda and a Barbaresco from Treiso, the Rombone Cru. The Barolo Normale and Langhe Nebbiolo (declassified Cru Barolo) are excellent examples showing excellent stepwise quality to price value.

The 2017 Vintage in Barolo

2017 is really showing how sophisticated and wise the Barolo growers and makers have become!

2017 will be remembered as hot with low rainfall. Winter was mild, while spring brought some rain and above-average temperatures. May saw the beginning of a long period of fine weather with summer maximums above average, though cooler nights than in other hot years.

End of August and early September, some welcome rain arrived, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures and marked diurnal temperature shifts. The later ripening nebbiolo and barbera benefitted most. While the overall growing season was shorter, it still lasted on average 185 days compared with 170 in other ‘hot’ years, and 200 in classic vintages.

The accumulation of anthocyanins and tannins was excellent, and while alcohols are higher, they are not out of the average, especially for nebbiolo. Ph levels were good and acids lower. Yields were below average of compact bunches, with harvest occurring around 2 weeks early.

2017 yielded wines of great promise – the cool nights and return to ‘average’ conditions in September being major contributing factors. In fact the 2017 Barolos show remarkable freshness and elegance, with the top producers building on their experience of warmer years, which began with the torrid 2003.

Galloni does an excellent job exploring the 2017 growing season and vintage in his article “2017 Barolo: Here We Go Again…” It’s clear the growers and makers of Piedmont have got their heads around warmer vintages and how to get the most in both the vineyard, and, the winery.

“There is plenty to like about the 2017 Barolos… In tasting, the 2017s are mid-weight Barolos with the classic structure of Nebbiolo. They are often intensely aromatic. Acids and tannins are prominent in many wines. The fruit profiles are ripe, often distinctly redtoned, but not cooked or over-ripe. Perhaps most importantly, the 2017 Barolos are very true to site, which is always a concern with vintages marked by warm weather. The best 2017s are exceptionally polished, vivid and flat-out delicious”

Galloni

In the video below Francesco explores a few elements of his Nebbiolo from the San Cristoforo Cru. Take careful note of the small size of his Nebbiolo bunches and the light, almost translucent colour of the skins. You can’t see through the skins of varieties like Shiraz and Cabernet.

In the video below Francesco explores the Giacosa’s Falleto vineyard. I’ve included this as it explores aspects important to growing Nebbiolo.

Where in the World is Luigi Oddero?

Luigi Oddero is based in La Morra with additional holdings in Castgilione Falletto, Serralunga, including, Vigna Rionda recognised as one of the very best vineyards of the Commune of Serralunga and Barolo as a whole, and, Barbaresco.