2018 Guido Porro - Barolo Vigna Rionda (750ml)

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Guido Porro is a small, family run estate based in Serralunga d’Alba that has always made wine in a traditional mold. The Barolo ‘Vigna Rionda’ is a thrilling new addition to their holdings, acquired after Tommaso Canale passed away about 10 years ago. Canale’s holdings are the best parcels in Vigna Rionda, a cru that is widely considered to be one of the greatest sites in Barolo. Canale owned the vineyard that Giacosa’s legendary Collina Rionda Riserva bottling was sourced from until its last vintage in 1996.   
Remarkably, Guido Porro now farms half a hectare of that very same parcel in the dead center of Vigna Rionda.  The vines were recently replanted to great expense and Guido Porro has been releasing a Barolo Vigna Rionda from this site in the past few vintages. It is produced traditionally - fermented in cement for 20-25 days on skins and aged in 15-25 HL, large botti for 3 years before bottling.  I was fortunate to visit this property in 2018 with the Kermit Lynch team (Porro’s national importer).  I was so impressed by this wine and remember vividly thinking how this wine reminded me of sensual red Burgundy – powerful and silken but weightless and effortless at same time. I’m sure as these vines get older, future vintages will offer a bit more complexity as they mature, but from a sensory and aromatic standpoint, I’m more than happy to enjoy this in its youth. 
Matt Tornabene