Size & Type
Other
$215
For the coin this sitting in a great spot. Lovely tannins, again Cortese’s juicy crunchy fruit signature. There is some darkness here giving it a slightly brooding feel. Time will definitely see this blossom. The Cortese wines have wonderful clarity and purity to them and this is no exception. A lovely set of flavours and weight here. Juicy acid matching slatey / silky tannins nicely. An excellent introduction to the Cortese Barbaresco level wines.
A new wine from this producer comprising young vines from Rabaja and older ones from Trifolera (sits under Rabaja and Martinenga, and above Tre Stelle)
Out of stock
“It’s impossible not to admire these genuine, sincere wines and their equally unpretentious prices”. Antonio Galloni
Giuseppe went solo in 1971, making his first wine under his own name.
From Galloni:
This is a gorgeous set of wines from Giuseppe Cortese. Gabriele Occhetti describes 2018 as a year without weather shocks and harvest that wrapped up during the first half of October. I tasted three wines. The straight Barbaresco is a blend of fruit from Trifolera and lots of Rabajà that don’t go into the vineyard designate. It sees about 18 months in oak. The Rabajà bottling gets a few more months in barrel. There is no Riserva Rabajà in 2018, but there likely will be in both 2019 and 2020. I also had a chance to taste the 2016 Riserva, which was just bottled a few months ago. These remain very much classically built wines with natural fermentations (both primary and secondary) and a generally minimalist approach in the cellar.
Cortese’s best vineyard is undoubtedly his Rabajà
Contrary to how it may appear when seen from a distance, the Rabajà hill is anything but homogeneous and can be broadly divided into at least two areas. The first bordering on Asili coincides with the picturesque amphitheatre overlooking the Martinenga cru, and mostly enjoys a south-westerly aspect. The second, on the other hand, is more linear and faces due south, though within it there are some evident variations due to marked undulations around the hillside. In both cases, the style of the wine is, however, richer and bolder than the Asili and Martinenga (although a more uncompromising, mineral character tends to emerge in the second area).
Cortese’s Rabajà is mainly facing south-west in the hollow above Martinenga, south for the remainder
The 2018 Barbaresco shows a slightly sweet side with dried plum or cherry confit. But there is a tart fruit and savory side as well that veers toward grilled rosemary, spice and iron ore. These unfold quickly as the wine takes on more air in the glass. These results are accessible and very pretty. The wine awards you a straight-shooting expression of Barbaresco that is balanced and proper. About 10,000 bottles were released.
The 2018 Barbaresco is a pretty, understated wine. Dark cherry, plum. spice, lavender, mocha and orange zest open effortlessly in the glass. The 2018 balances lovely fruit expression and textural depth in a soft, quiet style that is hugely appealing.
Where in the world does the magic happen?
Giuseppe Cortese, Strada Rabaja, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Province of Cuneo, Italy
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