Giuseppe Cortese, Barbaresco Rabaja 2016

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà 2016 is a benchmark expression of Nebbiolo from one of Barbaresco’s most prestigious crus. Sourced exclusively from the steep, calcareous slopes of Rabajà, this wine marries depth and structure with hallmark elegance and perfume. The 2016 vintage in Piemonte is widely considered outstanding and classically styled, giving this Rabajà a refined tension and remarkable aging potential.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2016 Rabajà shows a luminous garnet core with brick-tinged edges, typical of Nebbiolo but with the vivid clarity that signals both youth and concentration. The nose is finely layered and precise: wild cherry, redcurrant and pomegranate interwoven with violet, dried rose petals, hints of blood orange zest, and subtler undertones of anise, cedar, tobacco leaf and earthy spice. On the palate, this Barbaresco is poised and tightly knit, with the refined structure that has made 2016 so admired in Piemonte. The attack is focused and vibrant, delivering pure red fruit, sapid cherry, crushed raspberry and a savory line of herbs and tea leaf. Firm, ultra-fine tannins frame the wine without harshness, supported by a lively, mouthwatering acidity that keeps everything fresh and lifted. The finish is long and resonant, lingering on notes of rose, tar, spice and subtle truffle. Already highly enjoyable with air, this 2016 Rabajà is built to evolve gracefully for 12–20 years from vintage, developing deeper tertiary notes of underbrush, leather, balsamic tones and forest floor over time.

Production
Rabajà is one of Barbaresco’s great historic crus, a south- to southwest-facing amphitheatre of vineyards with calcareous marl and clay-limestone soils that give Nebbiolo both power and finesse. The Cortese family’s parcels sit on these classic slopes in the heart of Barbaresco, where excellent drainage, ideal sun exposure and cool nights help preserve aromatic complexity and natural acidity. Grapes are traditionally grown with a sustainable mindset, then harvested by hand at optimal ripeness to allow careful selection in the vineyard. Fermentation is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve purity of fruit and terroir expression, followed by a long maceration to gently extract tannin, color and aromatic complexity. The wine is then matured in large Slavonian oak botti for roughly 20–22 months, a classic Barbaresco élevage that polishes the structure without overlaying the wine with overt oak, before further refinement in bottle prior to release.

Food & Serving
This Barbaresco Rabajà 2016 is a natural partner for refined, savory dishes from Piemonte and beyond. It shines alongside white truffle dishes, tajarin pasta with butter and sage, risotto with porcini mushrooms, braised veal shank, roasted game birds, slow-cooked lamb and aged hard cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano or mature Pecorino. Serve at 16–18 °C, ideally in large Burgundy-style stemware to fully open its delicate aromatics. Decanting for 1–2 hours is recommended in its youth to soften the tannins and allow the floral, spicy and earthy nuances to unfold; older bottles will need a gentler, shorter decant primarily to separate any sediment.

Producer
The Cortese family has been cultivating vines in Barbaresco for generations, but it was Giuseppe Cortese who, in the 1970s, began bottling estate wines that would help define the classic style of Rabajà. Today, the estate is regarded as one of the reference producers for traditional Barbaresco, particularly from this famed cru. Deeply rooted in the region’s heritage, Cortese champions time-honored methods—large Slavonian oak, extended aging and a clear focus on terroir—over flashier, more modern techniques. Their wines are prized by enthusiasts and collectors for their purity, balance and ability to age gracefully, solidifying Giuseppe Cortese’s reputation as a key guardian of Barbaresco’s identity.

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