2018 Visit to Giuseppe Rinaldi with Carlotta Rinaldi

And then to one of the world’s great, and one of my favourite, wineries.

When we visited, we already knew that Giuseppe Rinaldi was seriously ill, in hospital. However, Carlotta Rinaldi and everyone in this family-based winery was carrying on very professionally, hosting groups such as ours.

Carlotta explained that Rinaldi has 6.5 ha under vines and has four Barolo Crus: Brunate (1.2 ha), Le Coste (0.5 ha), Cannubi San Lorenzo (very small, less than 0.5 ha) and Ravera (3 ha). She noted that the 3 ha in Ravera is largely east facing, so it adds some freshness to the blend. Its grapes are usually picked last.

Rinaldi produces about 38,000 bottles a year, including about 16,000 bottles of Barolo, as well as Nebbiolo Langhe, Barbera and Freisa (about 2,000 bottles).

It was also poignant when Carlotta explained that the 100 year old big (98 HL) chestnut Brunate tina is to be replaced. Next to the tina is a framed photo of Carlotta’s grandfather. The tina is so large, and the space so relatively small that it will be disassembled and its replacement built, entirely inside the winery.

Carlotta mentioned that Rinaldi is replacing vines using selection massale and generally doesn’t do green harvest.

Another quirky fact Carlotta mentioned was that several of the winery’s tine are secondhand, ex-Josko Gravner’s winery, presumably sold when he made the change to qvevri.

• 2016 Giuseppe Rinaldi Nebbiolo Langhe

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Carlotta described 2016 for Rinaldi as “a good balanced vintage, showing nice, slow ripening” and “fresher, brighter than 2013s, with less backbone but more energy”. There are 5-6,000 bottles of this wine in 2016. A perfumed nose of morello cherries in syrup, raspberries, strawberries and rose petals. Lovely mouthfeel. Below middle weight. Very red fruited: raspberries, cherries and some strawberries. Suave tannins. A very good Nebbiolo Langhe.

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• 2014 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Tre Tine

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Carlotta mentioned that July’s hail caused a 40% loss in production. This wine saw only 20-25 day’s maceration on the skins. A beautiful bouquet of floral perfumes, spices, dark fruit and minerals. On palate, elegance and fineness with huge power. Only medium bodied but serious structure beneath a sleek surface. Ultra-fine grained tannins and lovely sparkling acids. Real purity, energy and focus. One of the best wines of the trip.

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• 2014 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Again a maceration less than 25 days on skins. More spice on bouquet than the Tre Tine, also more earth. Notes of brushwood, tar, porcini, soy and forest floor. In the mouth, exhibiting more weight and power than the Tre Tine. A large volume of earthy fruit with chewy, grippy tannins on the very long, dry finish. Balsamic, black cherries, slate and dried herbs. A special wine but, this young, less immediately attractive than the Tre Tine.

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Absolutely world class wines, it is a privilege to be able to visit there and taste them.