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. 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.
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.’The 2013 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is elegant, refined and translucent right out of the gate. A Barolo of drive and precision, the 2013 Rionda captures all of the energy of this great vintage. Red-toned fruit, blood orange, cinnamon, mint and rose petal play off virile tannins in a Barolo of contrasts that is both finessed and potent.’ – 96 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous
‘Riservas are interesting, in terms of wine style, and I suspect that sometimes you lose more than you gain with very long ageing in wood. However, if there’s a vineyard that takes this sort of treatment, quite often it’s Vigna Rionda. Though, to be honest, I buy more wines from Villero and Rocche than this famous vineyard in Serralunga.
Red fruits, liquorice, walnuts, menthol and cedar, dried flowers and tobacco. It’s bright and fresh, spiced strawberry with an earthy undertone, kind of tense and bony in feel, with fine dusty tannin, etched firmly across the palate, some orange juice tang to acidity, then dusty and spicy on a dry finish featuring strawberry, and again, walnut. Very traditional feel here. A wine of architecture and presence.’ – 94+ points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
