Figli Luigi Oddero Barolo ‘Rocche Rivera’ MAGNUM 2016

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 2016 Vintage in Barbaresco

Francesco explores the 2016 vintage in Barbaresco. I know it’s not Barolo! Worth a look, you start to get a feel for the maker, his wisdom levels, and, vineyard approach.

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.

If you have a Barolo MGA 360º subscription check out the Rocche Rivera parcel within the Scarrone Cru in exceptional detail.

This 3D flyover is Epic covering each of the communes you can see just how varied and extreme the aspect of each vineyard is and how in the space of a few metres just how dramatically the change.