Giuseppe Cortese, Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva 2001

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabajà Riserva 2001 is a benchmark expression of old-vine Nebbiolo from one of Barbaresco’s most revered crus. Produced only in the finest vintages, this Riserva captures the power, perfume and grace that have made Rabajà a name whispered with respect among Piedmont enthusiasts. With more than two decades of age, this bottle offers the rare opportunity to experience mature Barbaresco at its peak of complexity and elegance.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2001 Rabajà Riserva shows a deep garnet core with a brick-tinged rim – a classic sign of beautifully evolved Nebbiolo. The nose is hauntingly complex, with dried rose petals, violet, tar, leather and sweet tobacco woven around notes of sour cherry, dried raspberry, truffle, forest floor and a touch of balsamic spice. Subtle hints of cedar, licorice and earthy minerality testify to its long maturation in both cask and bottle. On the palate, the wine is refined yet authoritative, with a firm but now beautifully integrated tannic structure and vibrant, still-lively acidity. Flavors of macerated red berries, amarena cherry and wild strawberry unfold into layers of dried herbs, cigar box, underbrush and cured meat, all underpinned by a savory, stony backbone. The finish is long, dry and nuanced, with lingering notes of spice and rose. While the 2001 is at a glorious drinking window today, well-stored bottles still have the structure and freshness to evolve further over the next several years, offering continued tertiary development.

Production
Rabajà is one of Barbaresco’s most prized crus, a south-facing amphitheatre of steep, calcareous marl slopes that provide perfect exposure and drainage for Nebbiolo. Giuseppe Cortese’s oldest vines here average around 60 years of age, yielding naturally low quantities of concentrated, characterful grapes. Harvest is carried out by hand to ensure meticulous selection of bunches at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, traditional Barbaresco methods are followed: long macerations to extract structure and aromatics, followed by an extended maturation of approximately 40 months in large Slavonian oak casks. After cask ageing, the wine spends an additional three years resting in bottle before release, allowing the firm Nebbiolo tannins to harmonise and the wine’s complex bouquet to fully emerge.

Food & Serving
This mature Barbaresco is superb with classic Piedmontese dishes such as braised veal or beef (brasato al Barolo), ossobuco, veal shank, and slow-cooked lamb, as well as tajarin pasta with porcini mushrooms or truffle, risotto with aged Parmigiano Reggiano, and game birds. It also pairs beautifully with hard aged cheeses like Parmigiano, aged Comté or Pecorino. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in large Burgundy or Nebbiolo glasses to let the bouquet unfurl. Decant gently for 1–2 hours to separate any sediment and allow the aromas of this mature vintage to fully open, especially if the bottle has been resting in the cellar for many years.

Producer
The Cortese family has been rooted in Barbaresco for generations, but it was Giuseppe Cortese who, in the 1960s, transformed the family holdings into a dedicated estate winery. In 1971, they released their first Barbaresco from the Rabajà vineyard, quickly earning a reputation for traditionally crafted, terroir-driven wines. Over time, the estate expanded to include parcels in Trifolera, adding Dolcetto d’Alba, Barbera d’Alba and Chardonnay to the range, while keeping Nebbiolo from Rabajà as its beating heart. Today, Giuseppe Cortese is regarded as a classic Barbaresco producer, celebrated for faithful, ageworthy expressions of Nebbiolo that highlight the finesse and depth of this corner of Piemonte, with Rabajà Riserva standing as the undisputed flagship and a reference point for the cru.

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