Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva DOCG 2019

Vigna Rionda di Massolino Flli | Piedmont
Az. Agr. Vigna Rionda S.S. | Piazza Cappellano 8 | IT 12050 Serralunga d'Alba

05494019 · 0,75 l · 225,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping6 units available
Limitation of 2 articles per customer

In 1956, Giuseppe Massolino fell in love with a vineyard and staked everything on it. To acquire a small part of Vigna Rionda, he swapped a plot that was twice as large. "It's madness," people said. A stroke of luck, as it turned out. For Giuseppe knew that Vigna Rionda was no ordinary vineyard. The name has featured in Giovanni Gagna's book on viticulture in the Langhe since 1879 – as one of the few places that produces exceptional wines. Before 1340, the land belonged to the Margrave of Saluzzo; for centuries afterwards, it belonged to the Falletti family. History records many names for this hill: Vignarionda, Arionda, Rotonda – because of its round shape. But they all mean the same thing: the very essence of Serralunga.

From then on, Giuseppe called his vineyard "Azienda Agricola Vigna Rionda". Today, Massolino owns three hectares – almost thirty% of the total ten hectares. This cru has been vinified separately since 1982, and Massolino remains the only producer to bottle a Vigna Rionda without interruption to this day. A responsibility and an honour. For what grows here defies rational explanation. Which micro-elements? What is the slope of the ridge? What is it about the composition of limestone and marl at an altitude of 300 metres that makes this wine so unique? There is no single answer. The secret is part of the magic.

Vines up to fifty years old, trained using the Guyot system. Long maceration in oak vats at 30 degrees, forty-two months in large Slavonian oak barrels, followed by a further twenty-four months in the bottle. Six years of patience. Only then does the Riserva leave the winery – the sole wine in the portfolio with this ageing period. And even then, it is still closed, reserved, almost shy. But over the years, it unfolds. It becomes eloquent. It reaches new heights of complexity, longevity and structure, fused with an elegance that is second to none. A Barolo that brooks no comparison – not even within Serralunga itself. What is Vigna Rionda? A cru. A vineyard. A Barolo. A story. A world. And with patience, sip by sip, it reveals its soul … SUPERIORE.DE

"With three hectares, the Massolino winery is the largest landowner in this mystical, prime vineyard site. The Vigna Rionda has been bottled since 1982. The wine hints at its finesse right from the nose and, alongside lively fruity notes of cherry, peach, rosehip, orange and redcurrant, as well as herbal notes, it possesses depth, is reminiscent of limestone, has bite, comes across as youthful and intensely savoury, with mineral rigour and delicate tannins in the long finish." Weinwisser

"The 2019 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is a wine of elegance and balance. Given the style of the vintage, I had expected a more austere young Rionda. Today, however, it surprises with its relatively open and approachable character. It has plenty of depth and structure, yet the 2019 is neither austere nor off-putting. Bright red fruits, blood orange, white pepper and mint unfold their charm in a most pleasant way." Vinous

"A slightly old-fashioned and aromatic wine with notes of coffee grounds, leather, plums and liquorice. The attack is opulent, with a full body, velvety, condensed tannins, refreshing acidity and intoxicating plums and umami in the dusty finish. Despite its structure, it is well-balanced and harmonious." James Suckling

"With around 3.5 hectares, Massolino is now the largest landowner in Vignarionda. It is bottled separately only as a Riserva – and not every vintage. The 2019 vintage showcases the cool, elegant character of the year. It opens with subtle spicy notes of pepper and sage against a backdrop of rhubarb. Eventually, flint and garden rose come to the fore. On the palate, it is as if you are biting into a perfectly ripe pomegranate, with crisp seeds, tart juice and cleansing tannins. Beautifully structured, with firm structure and a neat, exciting grip, this is a refined wine that contains nothing superfluous." Decanter

"The Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda 2019 is something quite special, as it offers dark fruit, tar, campfire ash and burnt embers. It displays the power and body of the vintage with great concentration, even though the wine appears bright and luminous. It has a very lovely mouthfeel with a lustrous sheen of tannins. The palate is, in fact, the best part of this expertly crafted Riserva. It combines more dark fruit with spicy tobacco." Wine Advocate

"With concentrated aromas of cherry, blackcurrant, plum, tar, iron and tobacco, this red wine combines power and finesse, with spicy notes of eucalyptus and wild rosemary adding nuance. The tannins still need to soften, yet this wine remains fresh, complex and built to last. An outstanding finish." Wine Spectator