Barolo Brunate 2017 - G. Rinaldi

Barolo Brunate 2017 — Giuseppe Rinaldi

This Barolo Brunate 2017 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 deep, intense and beautifully perfumed wine, marked by the warmth of the vintage yet preserving the tension proper to great traditional Barolo: red cherry, Morello cherry, ripe raspberry, blood orange, dried rose, violet, liquorice, noble tar, fine spices, tobacco, fine leather, fresh earth 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, floral and long-lined. The 2017 vintage, more solar and concentrated than 2016, gives here a wine of character, driven by ripe fruit, assertive tannins and highly expressive aromatic energy.

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 2017, the cru reveals greater concentration and aromatic warmth, while preserving the tannic architecture and minerality needed for long evolution.

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 on brightness, depth and transparency rather than opacity.

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

Palate: straight, broad, firm and highly refined, with ripe 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 2017 vintage

The 2017 vintage in Barolo was marked by a hot, dry season, producing wines that are more solar, concentrated and immediately expressive than the most classical years. In the best terroirs and with traditional producers, this richness remains balanced by Nebbiolo’s natural freshness, tannic structure and minerality. In Brunate, the 2017 stands out for its ripe fruit, floral intensity, firm tannins and long spicy finish.

Today, this Barolo Brunate 2017 from Giuseppe Rinaldi remains young and deserves long cellaring. It can already impress through its perfume, density and energy after careful aeration, but will gain complexity with time: truffle, fine leather, tobacco, tar, dried rose, forest floor, melted spices and mineral nuances should gradually join the depth of red fruit.