Reviews
- Kerin O'Keefe -
Technical Details
- Dante Scaglioni
- Italy
- Piedmont
- Langhe
- Barolo
- 40% of the grapes came from Serralunga (Broglio and Baudana), 30% from Castiglione Falletto (Scarrone, Rocche Rivera) and 30% from La Morra.
- Aged for 24 months in 8,000- to 9,000-litre casks of which two-thirds are French oak and one-third Austrian oak (Stockinger):
- 24 months
- 14.5%
Figli Luigi Oddero Barolo Tradizionale 2019
37% OFF RETAIL!
The Oddero family has been a regional cornerstone since the 1800s and was among the first to commercialize Barolo wine. Their 95 POINT 2019 Tradizionale offers an elegant and remarkably approachable experience for a young Barolo, showcasing stunning purity, deep fruit notes, and enticing spices for UNDER $50... plus, free shipping on 4 or more!
Set in the small northwestern Italian commune of La Morra, Figli Luigi Oddero boasts a winemaking heritage that traces back to the 1800s with Luigi’s grandparents, who were esteemed winemakers and merchants. Luigi himself developed a profound passion for wine, diligently studying the cultivation and production of his beloved Langhe’s indigenous varietals, while also exploring international grape varieties. Following his passing in 2010, his wife Lena and their children, Maria and Giovanni, continue working together to manage the estate.
In 2012, the renowned winemaker Dante Scaglioni (Bruno Giacosa’s winemaker for 25 years) joined to oversee the winemaking. Alongside his protege, Francesco Versio, Dante elevated the portfolio to remarkable new heights of complexity and expression. Over the years, the family has acquired approximately 70 hectares of vineyard, with over 50 dedicated to Nebbiolo di Barolo.
This 2019 Tradizionale – Oddero’s classic Barolo blended from several of their top parcels – has become known as one of their all-star bottlings, and 2019 is considered an excellent vintage. The different blocks of fruit are vinified and aged separately before a tasting trial determines the final blend. The vineyard practices have been certified organic since 2014, eliminating any chemicals in order to preserve the essence of the wine, as well as the health of the land.
Drinking like it’s already been cellared to perfection, the purity and traditional characters are unmatched, with impressive levels of smooth, sultry freshness. Aromas of dried fruit, red currant, and baked strawberry erupt from the glass, with notes of pressed flowers, cherry compote, black pepper, dates, and a touch of cumin sliding in first thing on the palate, alongside touches of wet earth mixed with fallen oak leaves on a forest floor. A layer of salinity ties it together, plus warm tannins add sublime balance. This is a magnificent Barolo from one of the area’s longest-standing family grower-producers, and an ever-worthwhile addition to your cellar!
PAIRING IDEAS: I, for one, am absolutely thrilled to be entering hearty, loaded-up soup season – especially with a brilliant and big and comforting Barolo on the side. This beef stew looks excellent – and easy!