Oddero - Barolo 2018 (750ml)
Wine Advocate: 93 Points
The 2018 Barolo is a pretty wine that flaunts elegance balance and a linear personality that drives the wine clean over the palate. Oak renderings of cedarwood and spice are woven together with wild cherry cassis and crushed stone. This mid-weight wine is long and polished on the finish. There is an immediate quality to this bottle that means you could drink it in the medium term if desired. Difficult weather conditions in 2018 with rain and hail meant that Mariacristina Oddero and her family lost some production in their organically farmed vineyards. Those include Nebbiolo Barbera and Dolcetto. As a result they decided not to make their single-MGA Barolos from Villero and Rocche di Castiglione (both from Castiglione Falletto) nor the Bussia Vigna Mondoca from Monforte d'Alba. They also skipped the Monvigliero from Verduno which is really too bad since this prized vineyard represents their latest acquisition. I look forward to tasting that new wine at the next opportunity. Published: Aug 11 2022
Vinous: 93 Points
The 2018 Barolo is terrific. In 2018 the Odderos were not completely convinced of the results across all their sites. Ultimately they blended all of their vineyard designates into the straight Barolo with the exception of the Brunate and a Riserva from Vigna Rionda. In the glass their 2018 is captivating. Exotic aromatics bright red berry fruit and vibrant acids give the 2018 its considerable allure. Vineyard sites are: Fiasco Bricco Chiesa Capalot Bussia Villero Rocche di Castiglione and Monvigliero. Look for this to be one of the under the radar gems of the vintage. I loved it. In fact the Oddero Barolo is one of the few 2018s readers should not miss. It is a very strong 'buy' in my book. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2021 Mariacristina and Isabella Oddero nailed the 2018 vintage. Perhaps even more importantly what the Odderos have accomplished over the last handful of years in elevating the quality of their wines is nothing short of remarkable. I still remember visiting years ago and being completely uninspired. Thankfully those days are a distant memory. There are only three 2018 Barolos. The Odderos did not feel most of their single-vineyard Barolos were good enough to bottle on their own so most of the casks were blended into the straight Barolo which by the way is fabulous. The exceptions are Brunate and Vigna Rionda the latter of which is still in cask. Readers will also find the 2016 Mondoca and 2015 Vigna Rionda Riservas among this year's releases. Stylistically the Oddero Barolos fall into a group of classically modern Barolos that combine old-school structure with striking purity of fruit gorgeous delineation and no awkward edges.
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