Historic Barolo Cuvée Recalls the Glories of the 1950s – Under $55 That Is Approachable Today!

DELIZIOSO! A Historic Barolo Cuvée from 2020 Recalls the Glories of the 1950s – Under $55. Experience the Overachiever That Is "One of Your Best Buying Options" In Barolo. Approachability with Age-ability.

"The wine hits on all cylinders...For a base Barolo, this is one of your best buying options. Fruit is blended from Bricco Chiesa and Capalot in La Morra and Fiasco in Castiglione Falletto." - Monica Larner, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

“This is another stellar set of wines from Mariacristina and Isabella Oddero. These precise, classically built Barolos continue to impress. Moreover, prices remain exceptionally fair.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

No doubt about it, all eyes are deservingly on the Langhe Hills with the rich and generous vintage of 2020 in Barolo, as well as the late-ripening, classic 2021 vintage in Barbaresco. In fact, we have not seen a back-to-back vintage performance like this in Piemonte since the ripe 2000 and classic 2001 that caused a media frenzy back in the day. Well, with the 2020 and 2021 vintages, undoubtedly, the hot producer to watch for is the historic rising star of Oddero.

Historically, the Oddero estate was prized for its singular Barolo cuvée, but starting in the 1950s, the prized vineyard holdings of such legendary crus such as Brunate, Vigna Rionda, Rocche di Castiglione, and Villero became the highlights and focus of the estate. It is easy to gravitate to the grand cru-like vineyards of Brunate and Vigna Rionda, or even the sleeper cru that has captured our attention - the Barolo Riserva Bussia Vigna Mondoca. These are among the hottest selling Barolo at the moment with the 2016 selling out within minutes of the offer going out with its perfect and near-perfect reviews. However, for IWM the approachability of the 2020 vintage begins with the traditionally spirited, signature bottling, the 2020 Oddero Barolo at under $55! Alongside the straight Massolino Barolo, it is our favorite value interpretation of classic Barolo and we remain loyal to this legendary Barolo cuvee.  The 2020 is absolutely DELIZIOSO.

Oddero is absolutely back on track and recapturing the former glories of the 1960s and 1970s, thanks in part to the dedicated efforts of Maria Cristina Oddero at the helm. With a little age, these wines are autumn in a glass personified — a cornucopia of dried fruit, citrus rind, brown spices, forest floor, smoke, and truffles that transport you to the Langhe Hills with one pull of the cork. And much in the way that many enthusiasts and collectors took for granted the vintage Riojas of Lopez de Heredia a decade ago, where you can find Old World charm delivered with value — we see this in the wines of Oddero. These are some of the great values in traditional Barolo and Barbaresco, especially with the estate back on track. 

FEATURED WINES:  A Historic Cuvée from a Barolo Patriarch

ADDITIONAL NOTES AND REVIEWS:

"Cristina Oddero… is now making the most consistently outstanding wines I have tasted here since I first visited the estate nearly twenty years ago. The trajectory in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. Readers who enjoy fine, classically built wines will want to check out Oddero. Bravo!"  –Antonio Galloni, Vinous

2020 ODDERO BAROLO

Christopher Deas, IWM: “This is the perfect follow-up to Oddero's success with the 2016 Barolos. This is classic, old school Barolo that's under $55, just the way we like it, and it recalls the Oddero style that built this great Barolo house in the early 1950s. Before all their grand cru-like bottlings, this cuvée was the signature of the house, and while there is a generous mouthful of the ripe 2020 fruit, this remains classic Barolo at the core. Expect to find nuances of wild berries, dried cherries, white chocolate covered strawberries, citrus, licorice, rose petals, cinnamon, eucalyptus, chalky minerality and tobacco leaf. This is elegant Barolo; the tannins are not harsh; they are well integrated and balanced. Despite its size, this wine remains light on its feet. This is truly a historic estate back on the rise – and it begins with their straight Barolo. Serve at cellar temperature with a decant and this wine impress day and going into the future. Very exciting, overachiever that is DELIZIOSO. Back up the truck.”

Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 'Coming in hot off some truly excellent past releases, the Oddero 2020 Barolo has a pretty mineral content with pencil shaving, crushed stone and wet soil that meets forest berry and underbrush. The wine hits on all cylinders, and there is good aromatic balance. It delivers a punch of bright fruit and crushed rose that gives way to pulverized stone. For a base Barolo, this is one of your best buying options. Fruit is blended from Bricco Chiesa and Capalot in La Morra and Fiasco in Castiglione Falletto."

Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2020 Barolo is a pretty powerful wine in this peer group. Accordingly, it is going to need a few years to come into its own. Macerated cherry, licorice, lavender, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco emerge gradually, but only with great reluctance. Hints of rose petal, mint and cinnamon linger."

This is an email ONLY offer. Should you have any questions on these exciting wines, or would like to take advantage of this offer (that is only available until 11:59, January 4th or while supplies last), we are asking that you email orders back to me at chris.deas@italianwinemerchants.com, connect with your Portfolio Manager or mention receipt of this offer if calling the store. All orders are subject to confirmation. IWM is not responsible for typographical errors.

All my best,

Chris