Giuseppe Cortese, Barbaresco Rabaja Magnum 1999

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà Magnum 1999 is a benchmark expression of traditional Barbaresco from one of the cru’s most revered producers. Drawn from the famed Rabajà vineyard and bottled in magnum, this mature Nebbiolo offers both depth and elegance, crafted for collectors and lovers of classic Piemonte. The 1999 vintage is widely regarded as one of the standout years in the region, and here it reveals the full, graceful potential of long-aged Barbaresco.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 1999 Barbaresco Rabajà shows a beautiful garnet core with brick-orange hues at the rim, a clear sign of its long and careful maturation. The wine is limpid yet concentrated, with slow, finely textured legs that hint at both structure and refinement. The nose is complex and layered: dried cherries, rose petals and violets mingle with notes of tar, leather, cedar and tobacco, backed by forest floor, truffle and a gentle spice from long aging in large Slavonian oak. On the palate, the wine is silky yet firmly structured, with resolved tannins typical of mature Nebbiolo and a vibrant acidity that keeps everything fresh and focused. Flavors of macerated red berries, dried plum, orange peel, licorice and sweet spices unfold gradually, followed by savory nuances of dried herbs and earth. In magnum format, this 1999 still has notable energy and can continue to evolve gracefully, though it is now fully in its optimal drinking window for those who appreciate tertiary complexity and refinement.

Production
The Rabajà cru is one of Barbaresco’s most celebrated vineyards, a sweeping amphitheatre of predominantly south-facing slopes with calcareous, marl-rich soils that give Nebbiolo its hallmark perfume, structure and minerality. At Giuseppe Cortese, work in the vineyard is traditional and meticulous, with a strong focus on careful canopy management and low yields to ensure concentration and balance. Nebbiolo grapes destined for Barbaresco are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness and sorted rigorously before a classic fermentation and long maceration on the skins, extracting tannin and aromatic complexity. The wine then spends about 40 months in large Slavonian oak casks, a gentle regime that preserves Nebbiolo’s purity while allowing slow development, followed by a further three years of bottle aging before release, ensuring the wine reaches the market with the structure and harmony worthy of the Rabajà name.

Food & Serving
This mature Barbaresco is a superb partner for rich, savoury dishes such as braised veal or beef, slow-cooked lamb shank, ossobuco, truffle risotto, tajarin pasta with ragù, and aged hard cheeses like Parmigiano Reggiano or mature pecorino. Game birds, wild mushroom dishes and dishes featuring white or black truffle make especially memorable pairings. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to let the aromatics fully express themselves. Decant gently for 1–2 hours to separate any sediment and to allow the wine to open; with its age and magnum format, it will continue to evolve in the glass over the course of an evening.

Producer
The Cortese family has been rooted in Barbaresco for generations, but it was Giuseppe Cortese who, in the 1960s, transformed the family’s heritage into an estate dedicated to crafting fine, terroir-driven wines. In 1971, he released the first Barbaresco from the family’s holdings in the Rabajà vineyard, a site that has since become synonymous with some of the appellation’s most profound and long-lived wines. Over time, the estate expanded with parcels in Trifolera, broadening the range to include Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba and Chardonnay, while maintaining a clear focus on Nebbiolo and Barbaresco DOCG. Today, Giuseppe Cortese is regarded as a classic producer of the region, championing traditional methods—long cask aging, respect for vineyard character and careful, hands-on farming—and earning a strong reputation among critics and enthusiasts for wines that marry authenticity, elegance and the capacity to age gracefully.

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