2011 Oddero Barolo Vigna Rionda

The idea behind this wine was to present a Riserva released ten years after the harvest. But the Oddero family realized that setting a fixed time (ten years) doesn't make much sense in the variable world of winemaking. For that reason, it was deemed that the 2011 Barolo Riserva Vignarionda was ready to be released now, when it is showing its best. Both the 2011 and 2009 (released at the ten year mark) come from hot vintages. This one is beautifully evolved and elegant, with so much muscle and power for a wine that has already reached early middle age. Vignarionda fruit can be very rigid by nature—closed and tight—and generally needs many years to reach peak maturity. But as always, it's up to you to decide when that time has come. As far as I am concerned, this vintage is already relaxed, and the primary fruit is still there. So unless you're a gambler by nature, the best bet is to uncork this bottle within the next 10 years.