Sourced from one of the Piedmont's top Barbaresco Crus, the powerful 96 pt. 2019 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabaja offers fresh, fragrant fruit hinting of ripe berries and crushed stone with polished, robust tannins promising longevity, described as "an especially fine vintage" of Cortese's Rabaja Cru by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni and a fantastic value for Nebbiolo lovers to savor over the next decade or more.
Known as growers in the region for three generations, Giuseppe Cortese was among the first to recognize the exceptional quality of Nebbiolo from the now iconic Rabaja Cru, transitioning his family's business to winemaking and crafting the family's first labeled release in 1971. Located in the hamlet of Rabaja near the town of Barbaresco, the Cortese winery is situated underground below the family home on the upper hillside of the Rabaja vineyard, now run by Giuseppe's son, winemaker Pier Carlo. Considered one of the top terroirs in the Barbaresco DOCG, the Cortese's vineyards in Rabaja span four hectares, the Cru's largest single holding. Located at over 200 meters of altitude in the Rabaja amphitheater overlooking Martinenga and next to Asili, the vineyard boasts Nebbiolo vines averaging over 50 years of age, planted in calcium rich limestone and clay soils on a mostly southwest facing exposure that encourages even ripening. Fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in a mix of stainless steel and cement tanks, the lush and perfumed 2019 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabaja was aged in various sized traditional large Slavonian oak casks for 22 months and 10 months longer in bottle, yielding lively, pure fruit and vibrant minerality with a superb, long finish and a substantial backbone of firm, cellar worthy tannins.
Produced in the outstanding 2019 vintage, lovers and collectors of age worthy Nebbiolo will want to act quickly to secure their stash of the outstanding 96 pt. 2019 Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabaja, a beautifully crafted, small production Cru Barbaresco and an outstanding value – in the words of Vinous critic Galloni, "It's impossible not to admire these genuine, sincere wines and their equally unpretentious prices."
Enticing scents of blue flower, crushed mint, berry and vineyard dust form the nose along with a whiff of new leather. The firmly structured, focused palate shows cherry marinated in spirits, black raspberry and licorice alongside a backbone of fine-grained tannins. It's well-balanced, with vibrant acidity. 2027–2039.
96 points, Kerin O'Keefe, Wine Enthusiast (Sep 2022)
Silky and expressive, delivering cherry, strawberry, rose, white pepper and aniseed aromas and flavors. Ripe and caressing midpalate, turning firmer and taut as this winds down on the lengthy, mineral-tinged finish. Shows fine balance and good potential for aging. Best from 2025 through 2045. 1,420 cases made, 300 cases imported.
95 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (2023)
The 2019 Barbaresco Rabajà is a powerful, austere wine that is going to need a number of years to come around. I very much like the energy, but readers should not plan on opening a bottle any time soon, as the 2019 is seriously tannic and shut down at the moment. It’s a gorgeous Barbaresco that shows the more elegant hand that defines the approach today. For now, though, the tannins are a bit searing.
94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Oct 2022)
This big and brooding wine is packed with flavors of dark cherry, black tea and tobacco wrapped in dense, chewy tannins. Its compact and extracted profile is built for the long haul, yet with a few hours of air it begins to show crushed violet scents and bright notes of mint, cedar and eucalyptus.
94 points, Wine & Spirits (Dec 2022)
The aromas of rose stems and black cherries with some redcurrants are enticing. Also bark and earth. It’s full-to medium-bodied with very fine tannins and a fresh and bright finish. It’s just starting to open now and shows such finesse and beauty. Drink or hold.
94 points, James Suckling (Oct 2022)
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