Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of rose, violet and spice greet the nose along with a whiff of new leather. Savory and structured, the palate offers juicy raspberry, cherry compote and star anise accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2027–2039.
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Vinous
The 2019 Barbaresco Rabajà is another stellar wine from Luisin. Ample and explosive, the 2019 offers tons of Rabajà character yet retains a measure of relative approachability for a young wine. Macerated cherry, blood orange, white pepper, spice, mint and sweet pipe tobacco build as this ample, layered Barbaresco opens with time in the glass. Bracing saline notes punctuate the potent finish.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe cherry, raspberry, kirsch, earth and eucalyptus flavors permeate the powerful frame in this assertive red, which is juicy and well-endowed with tannins, yet remains long and detailed on the finish. Best from 2027 through 2042.
Responsible for some of the most elegant and age-worthy wines in the world, Nebbiolo, named for the ubiquitous autumnal fog (called nebbia in Italian), is the star variety of northern Italy’s Piedmont region. Grown throughout the area, as well as in the neighboring Valle d’Aosta and Valtellina, it reaches its highest potential in the Piedmontese villages of Barolo, Barbaresco and Roero. Outside of Italy, growers are still very much in the experimentation stage but some success has been achieved in parts of California. Somm Secret—If you’re new to Nebbiolo, start with a charming, wallet-friendly, early-drinking Langhe Nebbiolo or Nebbiolo d'Alba.
A wine that most perfectly conveys the spirit and essence of its place, Barbaresco is true reflection of terroir. Its star grape, like that in the neighboring Barolo region, is Nebbiolo. Four townships within the Barbaresco zone can produce Barbaresco: the actual village of Barbaresco, as well as Neive, Treiso and San Rocco Seno d'Elvio.
Broadly speaking there are more similarities in the soils of Barbaresco and Barolo than there are differences. Barbaresco’s soils are approximately of the same two major soil types as Barolo: blue-grey marl of the Tortonion epoch, producing more fragile and aromatic characteristics, and Helvetian white yellow marl, which produces wines with more structure and tannins.
Nebbiolo ripens earlier in Barbaresco than in Barolo, primarily due to the vineyards’ proximity to the Tanaro River and lower elevations. While the wines here are still powerful, Barbaresco expresses a more feminine side of Nebbiolo, often with softer tannins, delicate fruit and an elegant perfume. Typical in a well-made Barbaresco are expressions of rose petal, cherry, strawberry, violets, smoke and spice. These wines need a few years before they reach their peak, the best of which need over a decade or longer. Bottle aging adds more savory characteristics, such as earth, iron and dried fruit.