Why Wait? Oddero’s 2020 Barolo Is Already Singing

Legacy Refined: Oddero’s Vibrant 2020 Barolo

Reaching back to the late 1700s, Oddero helped shape the story of Barolo itself—first bottling under their own name in the 19th century and exporting as early as the 1870s. Today, under the guidance of Mariacristina Oddero and the seventh generation, Isabella and Pietro, the estate continues to evolve, gracefully blending centuries of legacy with a distinctly modern touch.

The 2020 Barolo is a prime example of how far this historic estate has come. It’s a wine that is remarkably open and expressive in its youth, with a lifted floral nose, supple fruit, and tannins that are beautifully integrated from the start. But don’t mistake this early charm for short-term appeal: beneath the surface lies the structure and inner energy that marks the best classic Barolos. This wine may be drinking with surprising elegance now, but it will easily improve and evolve for the next 20 to 30 years.

The 2020 is drawn from Oddero’s organically farmed holdings across several of Barolo’s most iconic crus in La Morra, Castiglione Falletto, and Serralunga d’Alba—35 hectares in total, many located on the storied Kimmeridgian marl that gives Barolo its haunting perfume and ageworthy grip. The cellar work remains resolutely traditional—long fermentations, slow aging in large Slavonian oak casks—but the resulting wines feel anything but dusty or tired. This is Barolo with vibrancy, polish, and intention.

What sets Oddero apart—then and now—is an unwavering commitment to quality and terroir. Under Giacomo Oddero, the family not only elevated their own wines, but helped define the appellation as a whole, contributing to the creation of DOC and DOCG classifications for the Langhe. That same pioneering spirit carries forward today, as the new generation continues to champion sustainability, precision viticulture, and transparency in winemaking.

93 Points – Wine Enthusiast

The wine exhibits a distinctive herbal character, laced with 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. Drink 2026–2045.

93 Points – James Suckling

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. Try after 2026.