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Giuseppe Rinaldi in Tucson, or Tom comes to Tucson Night 1
Ciabot Tucker
Tasted December 2, 2022 by cct with 107 views
Introduction
TM came out to Tucson for some sunshine and nebbiolo. This was the first of the two nights and would be a look at Giuseppe Rinaldi's wines.
All the wines were double decanted in the AM and served with dinner.
Flight 1 (1 note)
Served with fritti misti and a play on bagna cauda. A really great way to jump start the night
White - Sparkling
2016 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Blanc de Blancs La Bolorée
95 points
Chalky with orchard more than citrus fruit and some subtle florals.this had terrific focus, lively on the palate, chalky, clean and flora on the back end. Well done subtle dosage. Mouthwateringly yum.
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Flight 2 - The older ones (2 notes)
Served with mushroom risotto
Red
1989 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Riserva Brunate
95 points
Double decanted in the AM then drunk over several hours at night.
A mature nose with som soy that blew off leaving lovely balsam, tar and roses. the sis expansive and deep with terrific sap and textural richness carried wit effort or heaviness. Outstaindg and then some, but not he best bottle I have had of this. I had very high expectations for this bottle and there are no great wines, just great bottles. This one was still outstanding, just not magical like it can be. It did gain depth over the several hours we drank it. 95
A mature nose with som soy that blew off leaving lovely balsam, tar and roses. the sis expansive and deep with terrific sap and textural richness carried wit effort or heaviness. Outstaindg and then some, but not he best bottle I have had of this. I had very high expectations for this bottle and there are no great wines, just great bottles. This one was still outstanding, just not magical like it can be. It did gain depth over the several hours we drank it. 95
Red
1999 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste
97 points
Double decanted in the AM and drunk over several hours at dinner
Hugely floral nose. Deep, lung filling. Cherry fruited nebbiolo, roses, tar. On the palate, it's deep, nearly bottomless, with terrific clarity and harmony. A mulitfaceted, effortlessly fantastic wine. Iron fist in the velvet glove here. Finishes with firm fine tannins. Youthfully fantastic. 97 and maybe I'm stingy here
Hugely floral nose. Deep, lung filling. Cherry fruited nebbiolo, roses, tar. On the palate, it's deep, nearly bottomless, with terrific clarity and harmony. A mulitfaceted, effortlessly fantastic wine. Iron fist in the velvet glove here. Finishes with firm fine tannins. Youthfully fantastic. 97 and maybe I'm stingy here
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Served with Mushroom risotto. These less than stealer wines did drink better with the mushrooms, but still a disappointment
Red
2001 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste
89 points
Double decanted in the AM, then drunk over several hours.
A mature nose that is pretty marked by VA. Behind the VA, there's dark cherry fruit, balsam and the fruit turning toward fig. It's texturally rich and with good depth, but this is not a great bottle. I've had much better. 89
A mature nose that is pretty marked by VA. Behind the VA, there's dark cherry fruit, balsam and the fruit turning toward fig. It's texturally rich and with good depth, but this is not a great bottle. I've had much better. 89
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Red
2001 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi San Lorenzo Ravera
87 points
Double decanted in the AM, then drunk at dinner. From my same purchase as the last bottle TN from 2021
More VA than on the Brunate le Coste. Bruised apples, with savory dark fruit. It's lacks Cannubi perfume. On the upside, it does have lovely texture, but a less than ideal bottle for sure. Bummer 87
More VA than on the Brunate le Coste. Bruised apples, with savory dark fruit. It's lacks Cannubi perfume. On the upside, it does have lovely texture, but a less than ideal bottle for sure. Bummer 87
Flight 4 (2 notes)
Served with roasted pork loin and root vegetables
Red
2005 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi San Lorenzo Ravera
95 points
Double decanted in the AM and drunk over dinner.
Hugely perfumed. with cherry, roses, menthol almost eucalyptus like medicinal notes. This has grace and a sense of sap. Expansive on the palate but with a calmer more subtle and harmonious feel than the Brunate. there's some Giacosa like hard candy and a sense of ease and calm on th epalte. Effortlessly beautiful wine that drinks like mineral water. Push you over with a a gentle touch wine. Maybe a touch less complex than the Brunate but for me as good or better.
Hugely perfumed. with cherry, roses, menthol almost eucalyptus like medicinal notes. This has grace and a sense of sap. Expansive on the palate but with a calmer more subtle and harmonious feel than the Brunate. there's some Giacosa like hard candy and a sense of ease and calm on th epalte. Effortlessly beautiful wine that drinks like mineral water. Push you over with a a gentle touch wine. Maybe a touch less complex than the Brunate but for me as good or better.
Red
2005 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste
95 points
Double decanted in the AM and drunk over dinner
A terrific forward ripe nose with walks right up to the edge of overripe but stays in bounds. Roses for days, cherry fruit, tar with menthol back notes. On the palate, it's rich and a little broad stroked for this bottling, opulent in the context of producer. That said, it has terrific balance and palate impact without feeling clumsy. The balsam notes grow with air time, gaining richness and depth. A Baroque Brunate le Coste, but beautiful. Very lon go on the back end. This showed better than expected. Delicious.
A terrific forward ripe nose with walks right up to the edge of overripe but stays in bounds. Roses for days, cherry fruit, tar with menthol back notes. On the palate, it's rich and a little broad stroked for this bottling, opulent in the context of producer. That said, it has terrific balance and palate impact without feeling clumsy. The balsam notes grow with air time, gaining richness and depth. A Baroque Brunate le Coste, but beautiful. Very lon go on the back end. This showed better than expected. Delicious.
Flight 5 (2 notes)
Served with roasted pork loin and root vegetables
Red
2011 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate
93 points
Double decanted earlier in the day then drunk at dinner.
Rich and showing the ripeness of the vintage, but not sens eo warmth. Roses, cherry fruit, some hard candy. It's forward and plush for Rinaldi with youthful bright fruit, balsam, and good purity. Quite long, and grows with air time. Quite long on the back end. I don't think this will be a wine for the ages, but it is youthfully beautiful right now and has plenty fo time in hand. A solid 2011.
Rich and showing the ripeness of the vintage, but not sens eo warmth. Roses, cherry fruit, some hard candy. It's forward and plush for Rinaldi with youthful bright fruit, balsam, and good purity. Quite long, and grows with air time. Quite long on the back end. I don't think this will be a wine for the ages, but it is youthfully beautiful right now and has plenty fo time in hand. A solid 2011.
Red
2011 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Tre Tine
93 points
Double decanted earlier in the day and drunk over dinner
A forward beautiful nose with terrific Cannubi perfume. Roses, cherries. It's rich and pleasing on the palate, with beautiful balance. A lovely, passively very pleasing wine if not the end all in complexity. What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in pure deliciousness. Drinking youthfully really well right now. 93
A forward beautiful nose with terrific Cannubi perfume. Roses, cherries. It's rich and pleasing on the palate, with beautiful balance. A lovely, passively very pleasing wine if not the end all in complexity. What it lacks in complexity it makes up for in pure deliciousness. Drinking youthfully really well right now. 93
Flight 6 (2 notes)
Served with roasted pork loin and root vegetables
Red
2008 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate Le Coste
97 points
Double decanted in the AM and drunk over dinner
A fantastic nose. Deep and cooler than the previous wines. Roses, violet, beautiful deep Brunate fruit. Thi is like lookin into a deep bottomless pool of water. Poised and harmonious. Intense yet weightless. This is the iron fist in a velvet glove. Finishes with firm fine tannins. This is still for me years away form a glorious peak. Fantastic. I love the wine and is for me further proof of the greatness of the vintage. 97+
A fantastic nose. Deep and cooler than the previous wines. Roses, violet, beautiful deep Brunate fruit. Thi is like lookin into a deep bottomless pool of water. Poised and harmonious. Intense yet weightless. This is the iron fist in a velvet glove. Finishes with firm fine tannins. This is still for me years away form a glorious peak. Fantastic. I love the wine and is for me further proof of the greatness of the vintage. 97+
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Red
2008 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi San Lorenzo Ravera
96 points
Double decanted in the AM and drunk over dinner.
A beautiful and suppler nose than the Brunate le Coste. Wonderful perfume. Surprisingly this has a little more savory going on than the Brunate on the palate. What shines for me is its grace. It's beautifully proportioned and texturally brilliant. Lively intense yet with a beguiling sense of grace. Youthful but what a future! 96+
A beautiful and suppler nose than the Brunate le Coste. Wonderful perfume. Surprisingly this has a little more savory going on than the Brunate on the palate. What shines for me is its grace. It's beautifully proportioned and texturally brilliant. Lively intense yet with a beguiling sense of grace. Youthful but what a future! 96+
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Closing
Overall it was a great time getting together with close friends from far and near. The food was very good and I think complemented the wines well.
When Rinaldi's wines are on they can be among the greatest wines. We had some bottle variation this night. the '89 can be an emotional wine and this was merely excellent. The 01's were the worst bottles of '01 I have had. I was pleasantly surprised how well the '05s showed. The 11's were like happy adorable Labrador puppies in the best possible way. The 08's were further substantiation to me of the greatness of this vintage. Power with a fleeting touch and sense of mystery.
It was great to sit and have this kind of dinner again. A breath of fresh air.
Thanks for reading.