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The Figli Luigi Oddero 2017 Barolo is a steady and compact expression with lots of sharp and well-defined fruit sensations. The grapes are harvested across four sites and blended. Those vineyards are Rive in La Morra, Scarrone in Castiglione Falletto and both Baudana and Broglio in Serralunga d'Alba. As a result, you get the floral intensity and freshness of the first two crus and the structure and richness of the last two. All these elements balanced out quite nicely in this classic Barolo.
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Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
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The 2017 Barolo offers up soft, rounded notes of vanilla, peach candy, and raspberry leather, and emerging tannins come through its initial fruit impressions of dried strawberry, orange peel, and saline finish. Characterized by elegance and approachability, it will continue to develop over the next 15 years. Drink 2021-2036. Located in Santa Maria di La Morra, the Figli Luigi Oddero estate was established in 2006 with the split of Luigi and Giacomo Oddero. The holdings of the estate were divided, and the estate today is comprised of 31 hectares, with 21 of those in Barolo. Luigi passed away in 2010, and today his wife Lena and children Maria and Giovanni look after the estate. Lena brought on Dante Scaglione, who for 25 years was the winemaker for Bruno Giacosa and Francesco Versio, to oversee the winemaking. Fermentation occurs in cement, with maceration lasting 15-25 days, followed by aging in large botti of various sizes.
The 2017 Barolo is everything a wine should be at this level: soft, well-balanced and easy to enjoy upon release. Juicy red cherry fruit, spice, new leather, cedar and tobacco are front and center. This is an especially forward, supple style, but it works so well. There is plenty of appeal and immediacy here.
Grapes come from Broglio and Baudana (Serralunga d'Alba), Scarrone (Castiglione Falletto) and Rive (La Morra ). 20 days on the skins. Each vineyard is fermented separately, then blended and aged in large oak cask for 24 months. The wine was bottled earlier in 2020: 'it has a firm structure and therefore we preferred to keep it longer in cask'. Just mid ruby. Pretty cherry fruit nose with a hint of spice. Supple cherry and raspberry fruit palate with quite big, almost tough structure, but the fruit holds up well. The massive tannins are just a little bit astringent for now, but a couple of years in bottle might do the trick. Very pretty fruit aromas on the finish, though. (WS)