2011 Oddero, Barbera D’Alba DOC, Piedmonte, Italy.
Poderi e Cantine Odder is an estate on the rise, it has been around a long time, since 1878 in fact, and they bottle only estate wines from vineyards mostly in the Barolo zone itself and they are located in La Morra. The winery is most famous for their top Barolo offerings with Vigna Rionda, Brunate, Rocche di Castiglione and Villero all being highly acclaimed and prized, and in recent vintages these and all their wines have reached new heights in quality. I am very fond of Barbera and believe it is one of the most under-rated varietals, it is a grape that over delivers for the price and is a great wine with food, giving pleasure and fulfillment, and Oddero’s Barbera D’Alba is a stunning example, it is layered with beautiful fruit, charm, complexity and class. Cristina Oddero is now in charge of making the wines and overseeing the vineyards, which are moving towards full organic farming, she and her team Luca Veglio, winemaker and Sergio Blengio, vineyard manager are doing an amazing job with the estate. The 2011 Barbera D’Alba, from a warm vintage is 14.5% alcohol, is deep garnet and purple with a seductive bouquet of fresh berries, floral tones and a mix of spice, earth, herb and mineral leading to a vigorous and plummy palate of blackberry, cherry, cranberry and sweet currant fruits along with minty/licorice, dusty stones, savory elements, juicy acidity and graceful tannins. The wine is full of life and while fruity and hedonistic at it’s core there is plenty of loamy/umami essences to keep things balanced, this is a dynamic and well crafted Barbera, drink from 2015 to 2020, I highly recommend searching out this great little wine, it is a steal at this price, and if you want something for the cellar don’t miss the Oddero 2010 Barolo, all of which are world class selections.
($18 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
