Oddero Barolo Vignarionda

Opens to a deeply raisined, madder funk. But more mushroom than corruption. The color is tawny, like a port. The initial mouth was restrained, but not bad. So, I decanted the bottle and let it sit. Over an hour the wine opened with dry fruits, think orange peel and tea, and fine tannins. Ultimately, I like a fresher wine but this old soldier gave a credible showing. I have Two more bottles from my mother in laws house, will report …

Age had hit this bottle. There is still overripe fruit but structure is mostly gone and tertiary aromas fairly limited. Could be bottle variation, feels like 10-15 years it’s past, previous bottle around a decade ago was great

The Vigna Rionda 1998 showed outstanding too, in perfect shape and a good drinking spot today, without any real rush though. Mature with power and noblesse. It carried a slightly more austere touch (compared to 1989) with ripe blue/purple fruits, mild licorice, crushed minerals/iron and medicinal herbs. A classic, old-school Oddero wine from a vintage that drinks beautifully today.

This is a powerful and persistent wine. Decanted for a couple of hours and drank over the course of a couple more, during which it loosened significantly. Pungent sweet bramble fruit smell, lavender, rose and some spice. Rich and concentrated in the mouth with flavours of mushroom, earth and more spice: clove, mace and anise. Leans more to lush fruit than leather. Smooth silky but still grippy tannins, just enough acid. Long finish. This is great wine.

Totally oxidized. Drank more like a port or a sherry than anything else. What a shame. The cork was in excellent shape.