Flavio Roddolo

11 April 2024
“Roddolo is man of few words and reserved expression, but his wines speak for themselves with grand eloquence. Do whatever you can to taste the wines of Flavio Roddolo” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous
A reclusive farmer untouched by trends or passing fads, Flavio Roddolo singlehandedly tends 6ha of Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto on the border between Monforte and Dogliani. His meticulously tended, low-yielding old vines have been farmed organically and without chemicals for over 40 years.
 
In an old farmhouse in the Bricco Appiani hills, Flavio vinifies his wines the way his father taught him: after long macerations and fermentations with indigenous yeasts, they are aged in cement and old oak, and bottled in tiny quantities only when he feels they are ready. The results are some of Piedmont’s last remaining traditionalist hidden gems – singular and soulful wines which evolve deliciously complex flavours over time.
 
Flavio’s Dolcetto d’Alba and Barbera d’Alba stand out for their old-vine fruit concentration and uncommon ability to age, while his Nebbiolo d’Alba rivals many Barolos for its dazzling intensity and drive. Roddolo’s Barolo ‘Ravera di Monforte’ – from a southeast-facing site surrounded by forest – is the jewel in his crown, marked by its exquisite perfume and suave tannins.
 
With Flavio in his mid-70s and having no family to take over the vineyards, the future of the winery is uncertain. Typically snapped up by a loyal following of ‘Roddolistas’ drawn to the quality and affordability of Flavio’s late-release bottles, this is your chance to try the wines of a true Piedmontese artisan while you still can.
 
Dolcetto d’Alba Superiore 2016 (£38)
From 60-year-old vines. Black fruit, forest floor, leather, and tea leaves. Long and lingering, with beautiful balance. Drink to 2032+.
 
Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2012 (£48)
Aged for 18 months in old oak. A generous character of dried red fruit and savoury herbs. Zesty and elegant. Drink to 2030+.
 
Nebbiolo d’Alba 2013 (£68)
From vines just outside Barolo. Powerful and intense – black cherries, incense, and tobacco – supported by a rich mineral core. Drink to 3036+.
 
Barolo ‘Ravera di Monforte’ 2013 (£115)
Lifted floral-fruit aromatics and herbal complexity – although already charming, this has a long future ahead. Drink to 2036+.
Please note that this offer has expired, however you can check current stocks via the search bar or shop@shrinetothevine.co.uk