Oddero Barolo 2020

Coming in hot off some truly excellent past releases, the Oddero 2020 Barolo has a pretty mineral content with pencil shaving, crushed stone and wet soil that meets forest berry and underbrush. The wine hits on all cylinders, and there is good aromatic balance. It delivers a punch of bright fruit and crushed rose that gives way to pulverized stone. For a base Barolo, this is one of your best buying options. Fruit is blended from Bricco Chiesa and Capalot in La Morra and Fiasco in Castiglione Falletto.

The wine exhibits a distinctive herbal character, laced a lively pepper spice offering a mix of dried red fruits with an electric edge. On the palate, darker fruits emerge that then lean into a tar-like, earthy quality delivering depth and complexity in perfect harmony. Youthful tannins sit firmly on the palate with lifted acidity on the finish.

Well-rounded, juicy and fruit-forward with notes of sliced strawberries, raspberries, spiced cherries and herbs. Medium to full body with fine, firm tannins. Juicy on the palate with more strawberry character coming through. Lively and in control with a generous and charming finish.

A firmly structured red, this offers cherry, raspberry, eucalyptus and iron flavors. There's an underpinning of dense tannins, yet overall this is medium-bodied and linear, with a compact finish. Best from 2027 through 2045. 7,000 cases made.

The 2020 Barolo is a pretty powerful wine in this peer group. Accordingly, it is going to need a few years to come into its own. Macerated cherry, licorice, lavender, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco emerge gradually, but only with great reluctance. Hints of rose petal, mint, and cinnamon linger.