Oddero - Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda 2015 (750ml)
Vinous: 96 Points
The 2015 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is gentle suave and caressing to the point it is surprisingly enjoyable even at this very early stage bright acids and youthful tannins notwithstanding. Of course the 2015 will be even better in a few years' time. All the Rionda signatures are front and center. The red berry fruit the kirsch the hard candy and the sweet floral nuances that are so typical of this great Serralunga sites meld together effortlessly. The 2015 is an absolutely exquisite wine that is more finesse than power. What a great way to round out this tasting of new releases! - 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.
vWine Advocate: 95 Points
Here's a wild ride back in time. The spectacular Oddero 2015 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda opens to magnificent intensity and an impressive level of no-holds-barred openness or generosity. You can age the wine further but honestly it tastes beautiful right now. The 2015 vintage carries a lot of extra fruit weight and shows broad shoulders. That supportive textural richness gives rise to dark fruit dried blackberry cured tobacco and candied chestnut. The bouquet is an infusion of fruit complexity and budding evolution. This is a bottle you could cozy up to sometime during the chilly winter months. Production is 3500 bottles. 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
