The 2010 vintage of the Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate, previously called “Brunate Le Coste,” is a collector must-have. Typically regarded as the more brooding of Rinaldi's Barolos, Brunate derives that power from the Brunate cru, which also lends the wine's complexity and intricacy, but this raw strength is tempered by an addition of 15% of Le Coste, enabling the wine to delineate layers of dark fruit. The ’10 is stunning, presenting a palate of juicy red and blue fruit kissed by spice and smoke, and underlain with dusty tannins and saddle leather. Powerful, structured, aromatic and thrilling, this ’10 is a true testament to this astounding vintage and the wine’s extraordinary maker.
- Country: Italy
- Region: Piemonte
- Sub Region: Barolo
- Subregion/Classification: Barolo
- Commune/Village: Barolo
Giuseppe Rinaldi, who passed away in 2018, had a unique way of seeing the world, an overarching respect for tradition, and a fascination with history. A fifth-generation winemaker, Beppe’s connection to wine stretched back to the late nineteenth century, when his family sold the fruit of their vineyards to the Falletti family. The first Rinaldi winery (which is still running today under Luciano Rinaldi) was acquired in 1870 from the Falletti’s estate manager, but in the 1920s Giuseppe Rinaldi, grandfather of the current owner, established his own estate with vineyards in Barolo’s best sites: Cannubi, Brunate, Le Coste, and Ravera. Giuseppe’s son Battista later took over the winery and developed their cellar techniques to boost quality; when he passed away in 1992 his son, also named Giuseppe, left his career as a veterinarian to carry on the family work.
Tradition is a constant theme at Guiseppe Rinaldi. Beppe believed that blends were the ultimate expression of Barolo. Every vineyard site, he would point out, will have shortcomings, especially in vintages that mesh less well with the character of the land. For generations, Rinaldi has appreciated the creativity and uniqueness of blends, and even Rinaldi’s “cru” labeled wines were often laced with non-cru fruit in order to enhance the still apparent vineyard character. In order ensure his legacy for the future, Beppe taught his daughters, winemaker Carlotta and estate manager Marta, to believe in Piemonte’s traditions and to trust the land. Like him, they rely on blends, and use large, old botti for aging. Giuseppe Rinaldi makes its Barolos for long aging, so much so that Beppe’s dream is that they should never be ready to drink.
|
