1996 Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva
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The 1996 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda brings back vivid memories of the first time I tasted it in the Massolino tasting room sometime in the early 2000s. Back then, things like allocations did not exist. Anyone could walk into the tasting room and walk out with a case or more, as I did. Today, the 1996 remains dark and quite brooding in this context. Next to more contemporary vintages, it comes across as a bit burly and old-school, in the best of ways. Blue fruit, leather, tobacco, cedar, menthol, licorice and graphite are some of the many aromas and flavors that emerge. This is a tremendous showing. I can’t think of a better conclusion than this for the Massolino Vigna Rionda Tasting & Lunch at La Festa del Barolo 2025.
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Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Massolino's 1996 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is in fabulous shape. Still developing beautifully, the 1996 has filled out nicely since I last tasted it. The razor-sharp tannins the wine had in its youth have softened as the fruit has begun to flesh out. Still young, the 1996 could use another few years to come into its own. A super classic-bouquet of herbs, lavender, mint, pine and sweet plum all open up, but the 1996 retains the austere classicism that is such a key attribute of this vintage. There is little question Massolino has since gone on to make even better wines, but the 1996 captures a pretty special era in the history of Piedmont.
The 1996 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda has always been a favorite. It reveals lively color and mentholated, balsamic aromatics along with black cherries, violets, licorice and tar on a powerful, classically structured frame. This gorgeously layered and well-proportioned Barolo has only begun to soften somewhat in recently yet it possesses enough fruit to drink well for many years to come.