Product information

Oddero Barolo Riserva ‘Vigna Rionda’ 2012

Nebbiolo from Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

$382

$372ea in any 3+
$362ea in any 6+
Closure: Cork
THIS IS EPIC!

Description

Vigna Rionda is responsible for some of the most singular and divine Barolo made. Intoxicating dark, earthy perfumes match seamlessly with wonderful flavours, and, divine textures making for heart-racing drinking! It’s for this reason that the unique wines of Vigna Rionda are considered more than just wine from Serralunga, but, Barolo from Vigna Rionda!

Only a handful of Poderi Oddero’s Barolo Riserva ‘Vigna Rionda’ make it into the country!

The 2012 was release late 2021 and has just hit our shores! I have a soft spot for 2012. I reckon as we continue to drink 2012’s we’ll see their standing amongst Neb lovers ascend.

Tasted this with Pietro Odder @ WINE DECODED HQ, Nov 2022

The ascension has started. Now transitioning into the second phase of development. As is often the case with wines from Serralunga they tend to be structured and taught when young, at 10 years old we’re seeing the 2012 build mid-palate weight and the expression of a linear core of fruit is on display. Secondary characters are showing with truffles, forest floor and beyond lifting from the glass with a wonderful pefrume!

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Check out all of the wines by Poderi Oddero

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

Wine Decoded Meets Pietro Oddero! He Came, We Talked, We Drank … We Played with the Pooches!

Spending a couple of hours with Pietro exploring the history of the region, the winery and the people was a pleasure. The quality and personality-filled wines of Poderi Oddero make sense … you’ll see!

Pietro’s grandfather Giacomo, the 5th generation, played a major role in establishing the DOC for Barolo and a suite of agricultural produce, think hazelnuts and white truffles!

While the red tape of a DOC can feel restrictive, at the time the impetus was to collectivley set base level standards that would see the profile of the Langhe raised on a global stage.

Few would argue they haven’t achieved their goal!

WINE DECODED · Pietro Oddero Nov 2022

 

Grape variety
100% Nebbiolo

Vineyard
Municipality of Serralunga d’Alba, Foglio n. 8, Parcels n. 335, 340 Vineyard surface area: 0,7712 Ha
Exposure: South
Elevation: 360 meters above sea level, on the top of the hill.

Age of vineyards
Varies. The central and largest part, planted before the Oddero family bought the vineyard, probably dates back to 1972. The highest section with about 240 plants was planted in 1983, and the lowest section with about 300 plants in 2007.
Our family began making Barolo Vignarionda in 1985, producing just a few bottles initially and continuing in the successive years with few exceptions. In fact, it was not produced in 1992, 1994, 2002, and in 2003 only 1,200 bottles were made. Since 2010, average annual production is between 2,700 and 3,000 bottles.

Harvest period
Second week of October.

Harvest
The grapes are harvested by hand into 18 kg crates and bunches manually selected. The crates are transported to the winery and the grapes sorted by conveyor-belt prior to entry in the de-stemming machine.

Yeld 
50 q/ha.

Fermentation and maceration
The grapes are moved to 50 hl fermenting vats, where they undergo alcoholic fermentation with daily racking and returning for approximately 25-28 days.

Time spent aging
Devatting and malolactic fermentation, then decanting and ageing in Austrian oak for a period of about 40 months. After bottling, the bottles are stored in racks in our storage cellar at a controlled temperature of around 15 °C and 70% humidity.

Tasting through the wines, they have a rustic nature to them, the tannins are mouth coating, often dusty and chalky. Yet, they’re balanced with a purity and brightness of fruit. There is a faint layer of oak in the Barbera from the new large Stockinger botti refreshing the old botti that have seen decades of use. It sits in balance. Isabella Oddero describes it as neutral and elegant.

The wines demand patience. Drink the DOCG Barolo and Cru’s over 2 or 3 days when young. I write this with a large glass of 2016 Barbaresco ‘Gallina’ in hand. It’s been open for 3 days now and is drinking the best it’s drunk. The tannins have softened a little, harmonising with the fruit. The wine has resolved to reveal a balance, beauty and perfume that sat shy on first opening.

These are superb wines of purity, character and energy. They represent an interpretation of Nebbiolo that requires patience and with it will reward you with bags of personality

– Paul Kaan, Wine Decoded

Readers who enjoy fine, classically built wines will want to check out Oddero. Bravo!
– Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Exploring Tannin Profiles

Texture is the missing link between good and great wines!

This is a great opportunity to explore tannin and mouthfeel.

  1. Drink a Dolcetto, Barbera and Langhe Nebbiol0 to dial into the differences between the varieties.
  2. Drink a Langhe Nebbiolo, a Barbaresco Gallina and a Barolo next to each to see how the tannins step as you move from the Langhe to both the Barbaresco and Barolo and how they differ between the Barbaresco and Barolo.
  3. Drink the Barolo next the Brunate, Villero & Vigna Rionda to see how the Crus layer up and have very different tannin profiles.

About Oddero

In Australia, we have wineries that have been around for 150 years. In Germany 4-500 years. Oddero sit in the middle with around a 300 year history.

If only those vines could talk. Now with 35 ha of vines across Barolo and the Gallina Cru in Barbaresco the estate continues to evolve with thoughtful intent.

Like many of the best estates in Piedmonte the attention to detail in the vineyard has lifted a notch or 3 and practices are now organic. I’d love to try their honey and hazelnuts. Italian honey is the bomb!

The film below is in Italian, seriously, just soak it up!

The podcast from Levi Dalton with Isabella Oddero from 2009 and one with Giacomo Oddero that just dropped is well worth a listen.

In the Vineyard

Since 2008 Luigi Oddero’s vineyards have been certified organic. Work has been underway to improve, soils, trellising and spend more time in the vineyard. Adding reduced yields the focus is clearly on lifting quality! I haven’t seen many older Oddero’s, today’s range have personality to burn.

In the Winery

The Langhe Neb sees a short ferment and maturation in Stainless steel.

The DOCG level Neb’s stay on skins for around 20-28 days in Tine (large vertical wooden barrels).

Stockinger Botti from Austria have been gradually introduced to replace the large old botti. Custom sizes have been bought, just 1 for each vineyard! Isabella describes the wood as being very neutral and austere.

I suspect the Barbera, that handle oak better than Neb, has been used for the first fill to ‘wash’ them of oak flavours and tannins before the Nebbiolo takes its turn. The quality and level of oak in the Barbera is nicely done.

Whatever the technique, the results in the glass are impressive!

Where in the World is Oddero?

Based in La Morra, Oddero’s 35ha are spread across Barolo, Barbaresco and Asti. Currently released Cru’s are Vigna Rionda (Serralunga), Rocche di Castiglione (Castiglione Falletto), Brunate (La Morra), Villero (Castiglione Falletto), Bussia Vigna Mondoca (Monforte) Bricco Fiasco – currently blended in into the Barolo Normale.

Vigna Rionda is recognised as one of the very best vineyards of the Commune of Serralunga and Barolo as a whole. Serralunga runs along much of the east boundary of Barolo with Vigna Rionda, a tiny Cru just to the west of the township of Serralunga.

Click to enlarge🔎

If you have a Barolo MGA 360º subscription check out the Vigna Rionda Cru in exceptional detail.

Click to go to the Vigna Rionda Cru on Barolo MGA 360º
94 Points

At nearly ten years of age, the 2012 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is a terrific choice for readers who want to enjoy a Rionda with a bit of bottle age. Moreover, the 2012 is a wine of pure charm and seduction, which makes it a joy to taste today. Lavender, rose petal, blood orange, star anise, spice, earthiness and red/purplish fruit convey the inner perfume that is such a Rionda signature. The 2012 doesn't quite have the complexity or structure of some vintages, but that does not attract from its tremendous appeal. There is more than enough energy and tannic grip to ensure for another 15-20 years of fine drinking, maybe more, so readers can drink or hold. The classically austere finish will delight fans of traditionally made Barolo. Drink 2022 - 2042

Antonio Galloni

95 Points

Here's a beautiful late release from Oddero. The 2012 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda has been softened and chiseled down with time, and the mellow contours of the once-hard edges are coming out. The wine offers lots of dark and rich fruit, with dried blackberry, tar, leather and cured tobacco. There is a point of subtle sweetness on the close. All of these lovely sensations settle slowly onto the palate, imparting extra density and richness with each step. The 2012 vintage appeared monotone to me when I first tasted it upon its release years ago. A rare exception, this wine shows us that we can expect beautiful things from this vintage. Drink 2023-2040

Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate

Where in the world does the magic happen?

Frazione S. Maria, 28, 12064 La Morra CN, Italy

Barolo
Castiglione Falletto
Piedmont
Italy

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