Winemaker Notes
Unfiltered to preserve its richness, this remarkably elegant Barbaresco offers concentrated aromass of raspberries, roses, violets, leather and spice. Full-bodied with robust flavor and firm tannins.
This Barbaresco pairs well with roasted meat or wild game dishes.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Tasted from cask, the 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is impressive. Dark fruit, menthol, licorice, gravel and dried herbs showcase Barbaresco's darker, more virile side. The 2021 is marked by deeper color and more fruit intensity - especially in the mid-palate - vis a vis the 2019 tasted alongside it. Time in the glass brings out the wine's textural resonance, volume and presence. I imagine the 2021 will be slow to mature. It should be worth waiting for.
Range: 95-97 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Balsamic aromas and flavors of eucalyptus and tomato leaf are matched to a core of ripe cherry, plum and earth. Though lean and austere now, this compact red offers a core of fruit and, in the end, nice equilibrium and impressive length.
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Wine Spectator
Balsamic aromas and flavors of eucalyptus and tomato leaf are matched to a core of ripe cherry, plum and earth flavors in this compact red, which is lean and austere now, yet offers a core of fruit as well as nice equilibrium and impressive length in the end.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A deeper ruby/red color, the 2021 Barbaresco Rabaja has all the components of the entry wine amplified further, with notes of medicinal herbs, turned soil, sappy herbs, dried cherries, and orange peel. Medium-bodied, it offers good length, balance, and persistence on the palate. It’s angular but has ripe tannins, good freshness, and a persistent, savory finish with notes of dark rocky earth. This is a very well-done effort from Giuseppe Cortese.
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James Suckling
A charming, fruits-and-flowers aroma and the rather broad and velvety palate make this one enjoyable already. Rose petals, orange zest, red cherries and a hint of tart cherry provide plenty of pleasure, while relatively soft tannins keep it smooth.
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Wine Enthusiast
Exuding savory earthiness, this wine presents a complex array of dried cherry and fig aromas. Its structure is robust, complemented by notes of amaro and medicinal herbs, evoking a sense of depth and intrigue. Dried roses add a delicate floral touch, while aromatic wood nuances, like cedar or sandalwood, contribute to its elegant profile. Balancing firmness with elegance, this wine is beauty. Drink from 2027.
Cellar Selection
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.