The Giuseppe Cortese 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a late release and one I am sure this winery is quite happy to see go to market given the hype surrounding this excellent vintage. There is a very pretty smoothness here, both in terms of the aromatic delivery and the mouthfeel, which shows how nicely Nebbiolo can reach balance. The bouquet is lithe and delicate with wild berry, crushed rose petal, white licorice and campfire ash. Some 6,000 bottles were made. Great job.

The Giuseppe Cortese 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà has a rich and sweet bouquet with plum and dark cherry. The bouquet reveals ripe black fruit notes that stand in contrast to background notes of sour cherry or cranberry. It's hard to pin down if the wine can be described as overripe or underripe, because it shows signs of both but ultimately remains somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. Give the wine more cellar time to come together. Fruit comes from a one-hectare parcel in this celebrated cru at 270 meters above sea level with calcareous clay soils. The wine sees extended aging with 40 months in large Slavonian oak casks and an additional three years in bottle. Some 6,000 bottles were released at the beginning of this year.

The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà delivers a savory and evolved quality with tar, resin and pipe tobacco. There is some vague primary fruit that comes forth as dried blackberry and black currant. Smoke and tangy spice appear in thick waves over the finish. This was a hot vintage, and my impression is that the fruit is gradually moving toward the dry side of the spectrum. I would suggest a drinking window of 10 to 15 years as a result. Only 6,000 bottles were made. This wine is only made in the best vintages, and the last vintage released was 2008.