Name: Arnaldo Rivera Barolo Undicicomuni 2017 (750ml)
SKU: 676256

Winemaker Notes

Barolo Undicicomuni is arguably Arnaldo Rivera’s most important wine. Spiced cedar, leather and scorched earth on the nose. The palate is wild and savory with notes of crushed raspberry, figs, cinnamon, star anise alongside velvety dusty tannins and fresh acidity. It stylish meaty and delicious and super uber Nebbiolo cool. Blending fruit from across the Langhe eleven Barolo villages, it epitomizes the quintessential values of traditional, historic Barolo. While the Arnaldo Rivera single vineyard Barolos are stunning, it is the Barolo Undicicomuni that demands the winemaker greatest attention. He is required to blend different fruit and terroir expressions from diverse villages, just as an artist balances colors to complete his work of art. This means that the Barolo Undicicomuni is naturally Arnaldo Rivera most complex Barolo. A shorter ageing in wood, instead of the 32 months of each cru, allows the wine to be more accessible and suitable for early drinking. A consistently great example of Barolo.

Critical Acclaim

JS94

James Suckling

Aromas of sweet berries with fresh, floral and forest-flower notes that turn to conifer and perfume. Medium-to full-bodied with racy tannins. I like the dried-fruit flavors with hints of mushrooms and dried meat. Better in 2022.

RP92

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This wine takes the record for the most complicated blend made with the largest number of vineyard sites. The Arnaldo Rivera 2016 Barolo Undicicomuni draws its fruit from 10 vineyards spanning the appellation, and I know of no other winery that has attempted such an ambitious assembly of Nebbiolo. For the record, the blend (starting in 2013 until the 2017 vintage) is Serralunga d'Alba (San Rocco); Castiglione Falletto (Codana, Piantà and Villero); Diano d'Alba (two sites in Sorano); La Morra (Boiolo and two sites in Rocche dell'Annunziata); and Verduno (Campasso). From the 2018 vintage onward, the blend is made from a whopping 21 parcels. The watercolor design on the label depicts the shape of these vineyard sites. This super blend showcases the depth and the tannic firmness of the grape with bold fruit aromas backed by tar, licorice and earthy truffle. I'd dedicate a few more years of cellar aging in order to soften those tannins. An ample 50,000 bottles will be released in September 2020.

D91

Decanter

Though Terre di Barolo’s ArnaldoRivera label focuses on cru bottlings, Undicicomuni combines fruit from all 11 Barolo communes. Upfront cherry and cinnamon meet chocolate and hazelnut notes redolent of the Langhe’s landscape. The palate is supple and approachable yet youthful, with tannins piling up toward the finish. There is enough stuffing to balance and the finish is clean and bright. A polished, friendly ambassador for the region.