Oddero - Barolo DOCG - Cru Rocche Castiglione - Castiglione Falletto - 2021

97+/100 Points Parker, light ruby-red wine with garnet glints. The nose offers intense aromas of red fruit (cherry, wild berries), roses, spices (licorice), cedar, and a mineral-chalky note. On the palate, the wine is elegant and beautifully layered, with slightly mineral notes, very finely rounded tannins, and an exceptionally long, precise finish.

The grapes come from the Cru MGA Rocche di Castiglione (Castiglione Falletto), organically cultivated, covering 0.66 hectares, situated at an altitude of approximately 250 meters with a southeast exposure. The vines were planted in the 1950s at a density of 4,500 vines per hectare. The vines are pruned according to the Guyot system. Production is approximately 2,500 bottles. The vineyard is one of the oldest in the Podere Oddero estate. The soil is sandy-calcareous, shallow sedimentary with the bedrock just below the surface; drought stress in warm years produces concentrated, fine tannins.

The 2021 vintage experienced a mild, wet winter (good water reserves), with local April frosts resulting in slightly lower yields than usual. This was followed by a long, sunny late summer with cool nights and a calm, late harvest from early to mid-October, with ample flexibility for optimal phenolic ripeness. The result: clear aromatic precision, energetic acidity, and ripe, refined tannins.

After harvest, the grapes were rigorously hand-selected for quality, then gently pressed and destemmed. The first (natural) fermentation took place for 25 days at a controlled temperature. Malolactic fermentation took place in December. The wine matured for 30 months in large 20 hectoliter French oak barrels. Afterward, the wine was bottled and refined in the bottle for at least 12 months in the estate's cellars. Oddero's method guarantees terroir expression and finesse above oak influence.

Wine and food pairing for this Rocche di Castiglione Brunello:
Pheasant or guinea fowl with sage and jus, ossobuco, mushroom risotto, roasted lamb shoulder, tajarin with funghi/truffle, matured hard cheeses.

About Oddero and why Oddero matters:

As an early bottler from the 19th century and guardian of some of the most coveted crus, Oddero is a benchmark for Barolo, offering depth, elegance, and ageing potential. A house where La Morra's finesse beautifully blends with the power of Serralunga and Castiglione Falletto. The company is currently led by the sixth generation, with the seventh generation already on board.

97+/100 Points Robert Parker

"The Oddero 2021 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione shows that etched minerality and soaring verticality that you can expect from this celebrated MGA site. This (and the 2021 Barolo Brunate) are my favorites in this group of single-vineyard releases. I love the sharpness, the focus, the tension and those taut tannins that stitch it together. This wine reveals a note of candied cherry, raspberry and terrific fruit purity. It ages in blunt grande for 24 months".