2020 Massolino Barolo Vigna Rionda Etichetta Nera Riserva | Pre-Arrival Offer

Lamont's Pre-Arrival Offer - Very Limited (120 bottles only)

Vigna Rionda is universally considered, by those with deep knowledge of Barolo and Serralunga, as one of the region's greatest crus. It is also the vineyard most closely associated with Massolino, who are its largest owners, with 3.5 hectares under vine. The family has farmed the site since 1956, with later purchases in 1967, 1985 and 1987 expanding their holdings to today's levels. Massolino does not use all their harvested fruit for the single-vineyard release: rather they make a strict selection, bottling only about a third of the potential volume under this label, with the rest going into the classic Barolo.

There is very little topsoil in Vigna Rionda, and there is a high concentration of limestone, oxidised iron and other mineral elements, traceable to the Lequio Formation soil type - the oldest soil in the Barolo area. The limestone content (around 20%) is among the highest in the region, limiting vine vigour and ensuring full phenolic ripeness. Other features include the 250–360 metre altitude and the site's south-southwest aspect, which protects the vines from northerly winds and frost.

Combined, the position and soils of Vigna Rionda create wines with an optimum balance of perfume, finesse, concentration and structure, along with the acidity and tannin to reward long aging in botti and bottle. This is why Massolino today always release Vigna Rionda as a Riserva, with a minimum of six years' age. It's fermented in large wooden fermenters and aged exclusively in large wooden botti for 2.5 years, with the remainder of the aging in bottle.

This is only the second release of the Etichetta Nera (Black Label), reserved for only the greatest years. The first release was the 2016. The second, the 2020, is a wonderfully refined, pure and classy Vigna Rionda-super perfumed with crushed cherry, bay leaf and dried flower aromatics and a fleshy, powdery palate that is already approachable, but has the length and structure to live for decades.