Barolo
The house’s calling card, and a benchmark of classical Barolo. In the great tradition upheld by the region’s founding families, this is a blended Barolo — Nebbiolo from estate vineyards across three communes, Rocche dell’Annunziata in La Morra, Sarmassa and Vignane in Barolo, and Codana in Castiglione Falletto, woven together for balance and completeness rather than bottled as separate crus. Critics have consistently recognized it as one of the finest wines in its peer group: long maceration, three years in large Slavonian oak, and the austere, perfumed elegance that has defined the Rinaldi name for over 150 years.
Appellation: Barolo DOCG
Type: Red, dry
Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
Color: Garnet red, taking on orange reflections with age.
Bouquet: An ethereal, ample, and enveloping bouquet — dried rose petal, red cherry, tar, sweet tobacco, and licorice, deepening into earthy spice and menthol with air.
Palate: Austere, flavorful, with a taut, vibrant palate. Notes of pomegranate, cranberry, white pepper and star anise overlay the distinctive Barolo dried-cherry, all of this is set against a firm backbone of racy acidity and assertive, tightly-knit tannins.
Alcohol: 14-15% (varies with vintage).
Serving Suggestion: 17–18°C (63–64°F); decant 1–2 hours when young.
Pairing: Braised short ribs, brasato al Barolo, roasted game, truffle risotto, tajarin with butter and white truffle, and aged cheeses like Parmigiano or Castelmagno.
Production Area: Communes of Barolo (sub-areas Sarmassa, Vignane), La Morra (sub-areas Rocche dell'Annunziata), Castiglione Falletto (sub-area Codana).
Vine: Nebbiolo Michet and Lampia.
Training System: Guyot.
Soil: The soil is sandy, more or less compact depending on the zone, with sandstone in Barolo and Castiglione Falletto and more clay and calcareous components in La Morra.
Total Area: 3 hectares.
Age of Vines: Planted from 1980 - 1990.
Harvest: Middle of October.
Vinification: Fermented in temperature-controlled cement or stainless steel tanks with skin contact for 25-30 days. After racking, blended and aged in large-capacity (5,000 L) Slavonian oak botti — no barriques, no new oak
Aging: Approximately three-years in Slavonian oak barrels . The wine is then refined in bottles where it continues to evolve while developing elegance and harmony as it matures.
2010 Barolo - 90+ Points – Vinous Media (Sept 2014)
“Rinaldi's 2010 Barolo captures the essence of this great vintage in its purity, tension and energy. A host of exotic spices, tangerine, soy, crushed flowers and tobacco lend nuance on the bright red-toned fruit. All the Nebbiolo signatures come together in a very pretty, exquisite Barolo that punches above its weight. The estate's Barolo is made from a handful of parcels scattered across Barolo, La Morra and Castiglione Falletto." ~ A.G.
2010 Barolo - 90 Points – James Suckling (Aug 2014)
“Light-colored red with an amber edge. Aromas of tar, ripe strawberry, flower and walnut follow through to a medium to full body, fine, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Better in 2016 when it softens."
2009 Barolo - 90 Points – Vinous Media (Oct 2013)
“Rinaldi’s 2009 Barolo is a gorgeous, entry-level wine. The open, resonant personality of the year comes through, but at the same time, there is more than enough tannin and structure to balance those elements. Super-classic hints of tobacco, menthol, anise and crushed flowers add complexity on the finish. This is a delicious Barolo to drink now and over the next decade.”. ~A.G.
