Barolo Brunate 2016 - G. Rinaldi

Barolo Brunate 2016 — Giuseppe Rinaldi

This Barolo Brunate 2016 from Giuseppe Rinaldi embodies one of the noblest, most classical and most sought-after expressions of Piedmontese Nebbiolo. From the prestigious Brunate cru, between La Morra and Barolo, it offers a wine of rare depth, at once floral, spicy, austere and beautifully refined: red cherry, Morello cherry, raspberry, blood orange, dried rose, violet, liquorice, noble tar, fine spices, tobacco, fine leather, white truffle and a long mineral finish.

Giuseppe Rinaldi is one of the most mythical names in traditional Barolo, renowned for wines of great purity, exceptional aromatic depth and remarkable ageing capacity. Brunate is among the great historic crus of the appellation, capable of producing Nebbiolo that is powerful, perfumed and extremely long-lined. The 2016 vintage, considered one of the finest of the decade in Piedmont, brings balance, precision, freshness and a structure built for very long ageing.

Terroir: Brunate, floral power and the nobility of Nebbiolo

The Brunate cru is among the most celebrated terroirs of Barolo. Located between the communes of La Morra and Barolo, it often gives wines that combine aromatic grace, depth of substance and imposing tannic structure. The calcareous marl soils bring Nebbiolo great tension, firm tannins, intense floral expression and a long, spicy and mineral finish.

At Giuseppe Rinaldi, Brunate translates into a classical, noble and unadorned expression of Nebbiolo. Red fruit, rose, blood citrus, tar, liquorice, spices and earthy nuances are built around a vertical frame and remarkable freshness. In 2016, the cru reveals a rare combination of density, balance and precision, with an architecture made to last for decades.

Tasting notes

Appearance: pale garnet with ruby and orange reflections, luminous, transparent and still youthful. The colour reflects the nobility of Nebbiolo, with intensity based more on brightness and depth than on opacity.

Nose: deep, noble and highly complex, with red cherry, Morello cherry, raspberry, blood orange, small red berries, dried rose, violet, liquorice, fine spices and noble tar. With aeration, nuances of blond tobacco, fine leather, white truffle, black tea, orange peel, soft mint, fresh earth and Piedmontese forest floor may appear.

Palate: straight, deep, firm and very refined, with precise red fruit carried by an important yet noble tannic structure. Flavours of cherry, raspberry, blood orange, rose, liquorice, tobacco, tar, spices and fine earth unfold with energy, supported by lively acidity and great mineral tension. The finish is very long, saline, floral and spicy, with an impression of verticality and great Piedmontese classicism.

Expression of the 2016 vintage

The 2016 vintage in Barolo is considered exceptional for its balance between ripeness, freshness, aromatic precision and tannic structure. It produced wines that are deep, classical, very pure and built for very long ageing. In Brunate, this year particularly highlights the nobility of Nebbiolo: floral perfume, intense red fruit, firm tannins, lively acidity and a mineral finish of great length.

Today, this Barolo Brunate 2016 from Giuseppe Rinaldi remains very young and deserves long cellaring. It can already impress through its precision, perfume and structure after careful aeration, but its true complexity will develop with time: truffle, fine leather, tobacco, tar, dried rose, forest floor, melted spices and mineral nuances should gradually join the purity of the red fruit.