Wine Advisor
Giuseppe Rinaldi, Barolo Brunate Le Coste 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Endless layers of dark, balsamic-infused fruit emerge from the 2008 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste. Tar, licorice spices and plums develop in the glass. Where the Cannubi/S. Lorenzo is seductive, the Brunate-Le Coste is all about power. Virile and imposing, the 2008 is likely to require another decade to start showing its true personality, but the truth is, it is already highly appealing. Violets, menthol, tar and rose petals are just some of the many notes that burst from this super-classic Barolo. The 2008 Brunate-Le Coste is another dazzling wine from Beppe Rinaldi and his daughter Marta. It is easily among the very best wines of the year. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2038. I remember the first time I visited Giuseppe Rinaldi, about ten years ago. Buying the wines was no problem, even going back a few vintages. Today, the world has caught on and the wines seem to literally evaporate from the market. Barolo lovers recognize this small family-run estate embodies all of the qualities of the traditional school in Barolo. One of the developments of the last few years is that the Barolo Cannubi/S. Lorenzo-Ravera is much closer in quality to the Brunate-Le Coste, although in terms of their personalities, the wines remain naturally quite different. Other than that, not that much has changed. The most modern addition to the cellar is a telephone - rotary, of course. Rinaldi's 2008s are just as beautiful from bottle as they were when I tasted them from barrel last fall. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2008 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste is aging in two separate casks as of November 2011, each with a different mix of juice from these two sites. The first cask is all seduction and perfume, while the second is much more powerful, rich and structured. Both are beautiful on their own, but should be even better once blended. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. There is something very reassuring about visiting this tiny cellar just outside the center of Barolo. It is as if time stands still, and in this frantic world, that is just fine. A visit with Rinaldi takes time, as there is always a lot of philosophy (not to mention a handful of unrepeatable comments) sprinkled in between tastes. “You don’t really want to taste every cask, do you?” asks Rinaldi, slightly annoyed he is going to have to climb atop each and every cask to retrieve the wines. “You bet I do,” I reply. The only change at Rinaldi over the last few years has been the increasing presence and involvement of Giuseppe Rinaldi’s daughter Marta. Readers might want to check out my video interview with Marta Rinaldi on our site. As for the 2008s, well, they are pretty special. Readers should do whatever they can to taste these wines. In my opinion, the Rinaldi Baroli remain the most traditional of the traditional Baroli. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (631) 467-5907
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Endless layers of dark, balsamic-infused fruit emerge from the 2008 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste. Tar, licorice spices and plums develop in the glass. Where the Cannubi/S. Lorenzo is seductive, the Brunate-Le Coste is all about power. Virile and imposing, the 2008 is likely to require another decade to start showing its true personality, but the truth is, it is already highly appealing. Violets, menthol, tar and rose petals are just some of the many notes that burst from this super-classic Barolo. The 2008 Brunate-Le Coste is another dazzling wine from Beppe Rinaldi and his daughter Marta. It is easily among the very best wines of the year.
About the Producer
The story of the Rinaldi winery begins with its founder, Battista Rinaldi, who in the nineteenth century was a farmer and tended to some vineyards owned by Marchese Falletti di Barolo. Eventually, he became the owner of a small farm and started selling the grapes he produced. With his children, he began making wine, and the family tradition was passed down from father to son until the current owners, Giuseppe Rinaldi and his daughter Marta Rinaldi. Giuseppe Rinaldi, a renowned winemaker, passed away in 2018, leaving the company in the capable hands of his daughter Marta, a graduate winemaker from the Alba school who had worked alongside her father in the vineyards and cellar for many years. The Rinaldi winery owns over 10 hectares of vineyards, including some of the most famous crus of Barolo, such as Brunate, Cannubi-San Lorenzo, and Ravera. The winery has always been a point of reference for the Barolo territory, producing classic, deep wines that age beautifully and reflect the unique terroir in which they were born. The Barolo Rinaldi is one of the winery's flagship products, sought after by connoisseurs and collectors, especially the Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo 2010. Marta manages the vineyards with a deep respect for the environment and the traditions of the territory. The vineyards are managed naturally, with a rigorous approach that never forgets the fundamental importance of rural culture. The management of the vineyards and the vinification follow traditional Langa philosophies, with a focus on naturalness and respect for the varietal characteristics of the vines. The wine undergoes long macerations on the skins in open truncated cone vats and is aged in large Slavonian oak casks. The winemaking process involves the use of natural yeasts and maceration in wooden vats, aging in large oak barrels, and the use of sulfur dioxide. The total SO2 in the bottle is 50mg/l.
