Oddero Langhe Nebbiolo 2023

Poderi e Cantine Oddero is a historic family estate founded in 1878 in the Langhe hills of Piedmont, long counted among the leading Barolo growers. This Langhe Nebbiolo is drawn from organically farmed vineyards in La Morra and at Santa Maria, giving a wine in the classic Barolo mould at an earlier-drinking level. Nebbiolo is an early-budding, late-ripening grape that needs the warm, well-exposed calcareous marl slopes of the Langhe to ripen its firm tannin and high acidity fully. The wine spends eighteen months in oak, which softens the tannin and adds a savoury frame through slow oxygen exchange while keeping the variety's transparency. Nebbiolo is only lightly coloured, so this is pale garnet, with red cherry, dried rose and raspberry on the nose over leather, liquorice and a tarry, earthy note. The palate is medium to full, driven by bright acidity and grippy, fine tannin, with a long savoury finish. It offers much of the Barolo experience in a more approachable form and will develop over several years. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted, in a large glass. It suits braised beef, game and mushroom dishes.