Barolo Cannubi (Cannubbio)
The flagship of the house, from the most historic vineyard in all of Barolo — and the Rinaldi family’s home ground: the winery itself stands on the Cannubi hill. Cannubi’s fame predates the appellation itself (a surviving bottle labeled “Cannubi 1752” is older than the name Barolo), and its wines are cherished, like the greatest Burgundies, for their extraordinary perfume and silken texture. Rinaldi’s traditionally crafted Cannubi has graced historic tables — including the 1949 celebrations of Italy’s entry into the Atlantic alliance — and remains a benchmark: deep and intensely flavored, yet defined above all by aromatic complexity and textural elegance.
Appellation: Barolo DOCG, Cannubi
Type: Red, dry
Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo (Michet and Lampia)
Color: Garnet red with orange highlights emerging with age.
Bouquet: A vibrant, generous bouquet of red cherry, rose petal, tobacco, anise, mint, and licorice, gaining truffle and spice with maturity.
Palate: ripe fruit and savory spice with the cru's signature: silkiness and textural refinement over fine, prominent tannins, a subtle earthy-mushroom depth, and a long, layered finish.
Alcohol: 14-15% (varies with vintage).
Serving Suggestion: Serve at 16-17°C (61-63°F) in a tall, fairly wide goblet. Decant. Decant. Decant (or cellar).
Pairing: tajarin with white truffle, brasato al Barolo, roasted game, wild mushroom risotto, and aged Castelmagno or Parmigiano. Its perfumed elegance also flatters duck and squab beautifully.
Cru: Cannubi, commune of Barolo — historically bottled by the family as "Cannubbio". 2.8 hectares on the hill — 2.2 ha in Cannubi Boschis and 0.6 ha in Cannubi proper
Elevation: 270 meters (900 ft) a.s.l.
Exposure: Southeast.
Vine: Nebbiolo Michet and Lampia.
Training System: Guyot.
Soil: This historical vineyard, among the most esteemed in the Barolo area, features a mixture of Tortonian and Helvetian soils from different geological eras, imparting a unique complexity and richness to the soil. The high sand content gives the wine an intense bouquet which is fruity when it is young, but which develops spicier tones as it evolves.
Age of Vines: Cannubi Boschis planted from 1967 - 1990.
Yield: 3.5 tons per acre.
Harvest: Middle of October.
Vinification: Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with an automatic pump-over system for a period of 25-30 days.
Aging: The wine is refined for at least three years in large-capacity (5,000 liters) Slavonian oak barrels.
2011 Barolo Cannubi - 93 Points – Vinous Media (Dec. 2015)
“Rinaldi's 2011 Barolo Cannubi shows the richer side of this site, with all of the typical flavors amped up by the richness of the year. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, mint, rose petal and spice notes flesh out in this decidedly ample, bold Cannubi. Sweeping in stature and proportion, the Cannubi is a terrific example of the year. It is also a touch fresher than the Brunate, which is one of the reasons I prefer it today, albeit slightly." ~ Antonio Galloni
2010 Barolo Cannubbio - 93 Points – Vinous Media (Sept 2014)
“Translucent and sensual, Rinaldi's 2010 Barolo Cannubi graces the palate with exquisite finesse. The floral aromatics, silky tannins and precise, scultped fruit are pure Cannubi. Mint, hard candy and cinnamon are laced into the soft, gracious finish. Disarmingly open and seductive, the 2010 is absolutely joyous today, yet it also clearly has the pedigree to age well for many years." ~ A.G.
2010 Barolo Cannubio - 92 Points – James Suckling (Aug 2014)
“Plenty of spice, nut and earth character to this one. Delicately ripe fruit. A firm, silky red with cherry, plum and citrus character. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink or hold."
2009 Barolo Cannubio - 93 Points – James Suckling (Dec 2013)
“Beautiful aromas of plums, citrus fruit and rose petals. Full body, round and soft tannins and a delicious finish. This is so balanced and delicious. Shows the balance of Cannubi. Better in 2015 but so pretty now."
2008 Barolo Cannnubbio – 92 Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate (#203 Oct 2012)
"The 2008 Barolo Cannubbio exhibits all of the classic notes typically found in wines from this site. Sweet, open floral notes lead to tobacco, leather, anise and spices as this gorgeous Barolo shows off its class. There is more than enough fruit to balance the tannins, but the 2008 remains tight and in need of further cellaring. Still, there is so much to admire in this classy, mid-weight Barolo. In 2008, the Cannubbio is all class and finesse. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2038. It is great to see a continued focus on quality at this historic, family-run estate." ~ A.G.
2007 Barolo Cannubbio – 94 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (#197 Oct. 2011)
"The 2007 Barolo Cannubbio is superb in this vintage. Sweet red cherries, rose petals, mint, anise and licorice are just some of the notes that emerge from the glass. Ultimately, though, the Cannubbio is most about silkiness and textural elegance. The wine fleshes out nicely with air, showing the richness of the vintage, while maintaining a classic sense of structure. The more the wine sits in the glass the more it firms up. Sweet scents of tobacco, licorice and herbs are nicely layered into the finish. This is a terrific showing from Rinaldi.” ~A.G.
2005 Barolo Cannubbio – 90 Points – Robert Parker Wine Advocate (#185 Oct. 2009)
"The 2005 Barolo Cannubbio is surprisingly supple for this producer. Dark red fruit, flowers and spices come together in this round, caressing Barolo. The wine lacks some of the verve and delineation of the finest vintages, yet the sheer purity and richness of the fruit compensates. Against my better judgment (and experience with this producer’s wines) I am inclined to think this will be a relatively early-drinking Barolo within the context of Rinaldi. The balance here is lovely. …I continue to be impressed with the wines that are emerging from this historic winery. The Barolos in particular show far more harmony and elegance than was once the case." ~A.G.
