Figli Luigi Oddero Langhe Nebbiolo 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 Barolo

The 2016 vintage was one of the longest-lasting in recent years. Early winter was dry and mild, however from the end of February through March, the temperatures dropped with plenty of rain, providing good reserves of water. The “late” cold delayed the vegetative cycle, and spring proper also started wet with average daytime temperatures but low overnight minimums, helping retain good health. This phenological delay continued until the end of the summer, which began slowly but extended until the end of September. The white harvest ran from September 5th to 20th, with the wines showing excellent aroma and good acidity due to cooler summer temperature peaks. The red harvest began immediately after with Dolcetto, followed without a break to the middle of October with the Barbera and Nebbiolo. 2016 was a very good vintage for Dolcetto, but even more so for Barbera, which acquired excellent levels of sugar over a long period of stable conditions, while maintaining the varietal’s typically good acidity. Nebbiolo also achieved good phenological ripeness, a direct result of the perfect warm, sunny conditions of the second half of September. Whilst it is still early, the 2016 vintage wines display excellent balance, generous aromatics and great structure, and in some cases lower alcohols, compared to 2015. 2016 promises to be a vintage which will be talked about for a long time to come!

Where in the World is Does it Come From?

The Langhe Nebbiolo sees fruit from ‘Santa Maria’ in La Morra and ‘Rocche Rivera’ in Castiglione Falletto. Yup, Cru gear!