The Vigna Rionda Cru is released with at least five years of age, and none was made in 2018. The 2019 Vigna Rionda will be offered with next year’s Barolo release. In the meantime, we are able to offer—unallocated—some of 2017’s remarkable “flat-out stunner” (Antonio Galloni) and 2016’s “absolutely stunning” (Galloni again) Etichetta Nera. Anyone coming back for a second bite of these particular cherries will be very glad they did.

Vigna Rionda is historically the most revered vineyard of Serralunga and the source of some of the greatest, finest and longest-lived Barolo. The Massolino family is the largest holder in this Cru, with 3.5 hectares of Vigna Rionda vines between 40 and 50 years old. On some of the oldest soils of Barolo, there is very little topsoil here, with a high concentration of limestone, oxidised iron and other mineral elements. The altitude is also 300 metres above sea level, with protection from northerly winds and frost provided by the south/southwest aspect.

It’s a vineyard that generates wines with an optimum balance of perfume, finesse, concentration and structure rarely found in Barolo. Excellent acidity and tannins are a feature of Vigna Rionda wines, so they require longer aging in both botti and bottle.

Always aged in large cask, 2017 was the second vintage that Massolino’s Vigna Rionda was also fermented in large wood. It spent 20 days on skins and then aged for 30 months in a 7,000-litre Stockinger botti.

“The 2017 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is flat out stunning. All the purest essence of Rionda comes through in a captivating Barolo that dazzles. Sweet red cherry fruit, kirsch, rose petal, licorice and blood orange are some of the many aromas and flavors that lift from the glass. Exotic and racy, the 2017 is a flat-out stunner. Now, for the million dollar question. Is it better than the 2016? Right now, I give an edge to the 2017 for its greater finesse and total sense of exotic beauty. But time will be the judge. I do look forward to tasting the 2016 and 2017 side by side!” 98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

“Bright red cherry, mint, potpourri, new leather, liquorice root. So fragrant. Fresh, very fine, tannin has a succulence, and they sit so well within the wine, melting through its core. Red fruits (strawberry in particular), tea and blood orange, and a superb long finish of precision and freshness. A beautiful expression of Vigna Rionda, and one that belies the heat of the vintage.” 97 points, Gary Walsh, The Wine Front