Producer
This 23 hectare estate has been in the Massolino family since 1896. Since 1994 the style of the wines has undergone a subtle transformation. Winemaker Franco Massolino has done a wonderful job of marrying change with a respect for tradition, something that sets him apart from most of the younger producers in Barolo today. This is in part dictated by the nature of the vineyards that the Massolino family owns in the commune of Serralunga d’Alba – the source of some of the greatest, most structured, robust and long-lived Barolo wines.
Vineyards
Grapes for this wine were grown in the 2.6 hectare ‘Vigna Rionda’ vineyard, which is one of 35 recognised Serralunga crus. Situated mid-slope at 330 metres above sea level, the vineyard is at an ideal altitude for Nebbiolo and is protected from northern winds by the Castelletto hills. The marl-limestone mix of soils, together with the microclimate, enable the production of wines with an optimum balance of structure, aroma and finesse rarely found elsewhere. The vines are traditional Guyot trained and are planted at a density of 5,000 to 6,000 vines per hectare. The average yield is 45 hectolitres per hectare and the vines are 15-35 years old.
Vinification
‘Vigna Rionda’ is a classic style of Barolo, made using traditional vinification techniques, in contrast to Parafada. Fermentation and maceration lasted 25-30 days at temperatures between 31-33°C. The wine was aged for a total of six years, 3.5 of which were in traditional large Slavonian oak barrels and the remaining 2.5 in bottle.