2017 Massolino Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva, Piedmont

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! Drink 2027-2047.

98 points vinous.com

Notes of wild strawberries and sour cherries with dried flowers and chocolate orange undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, very polished and fine-grained, showcasing subtle notes of red fruit with a mineral backbone. Even and balanced with a textural finish. Great to drink after 2025 but will age further.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Massolino Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva is one of the great wines of Piedmont — a benchmark single-vineyard Barolo that combines the depth and age-worthiness of traditional winemaking with the clarity and finesse that defines this exceptional site. Vigna Rionda, located in Serralunga d’Alba, is one of the most revered crus in the Barolo zone, known for producing Nebbiolo of immense structure, longevity, and haunting complexity. In the hands of the Massolino family, it becomes a wine of profound character and classical beauty.

Made only in the best vintages, this Riserva is produced from old vines on the south-southwest-facing slope of Vigna Rionda, where the calcareous marl soils and high elevation provide ideal conditions for long, slow ripening. Fermentation is traditional, with extended maceration and ageing in large Slavonian oak casks for over five years, followed by further time in bottle before release. It is a wine that speaks more of place than technique, and of patience over immediacy.

The nose is deep and complex, offering dried rose petals, redcurrant, sour cherry, wild herbs, orange peel, tobacco, and iron. The palate is powerful yet refined, with layers of red fruit, licorice, truffle, tar and crushed stones wrapped in fine, chalky tannins. The finish is long, dry and mineral, with lifted floral notes and tremendous energy. It’s not about flash — it’s about time, soil and soul.

Food pairing: ideal with braised veal shank, truffle risotto, aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, game meats or wild mushroom polenta. Also magnificent with traditional Piemontese dishes like tajarin with butter and sage.

Cellar potential: absolutely built for the long term. Will reward 15 to 30+ years in the cellar, evolving from intense red fruit and structure into something ethereal, savoury and unforgettable.