2021 Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barolo Brunate

Aromas of dried rose petals, sour cherry, and wild raspberry integrate with savory notes of tar, leather, and anise. The palate is full-bodied and exceptionally precise, featuring a concentrated core of red fruit and a firm, athletic texture. It displays the classic "iron fist in a velvet glove" structure with assertive, noble tannins and a racy acidity that leads to a long, resonating finish marked by a distinct saline minerality.

The Rinaldi family utilizes 100% Nebbiolo sourced from their historic holdings. In the cellar, the fruit undergoes a traditional long fermentation in concrete vats with native yeasts, followed by a lengthy maceration to extract deep structural complexity. The wine matures for at least three years in large, neutral Slavonian oak casks (botti). This patient, minimalist approach allows the site's power to soften naturally, resulting in a wine of immense transparency and aging potential.

The fruit is grown in the prestigious Brunate cru, a world-class vineyard site shared between the communes of Barolo and La Morra. The site is defined by its high-altitude slopes and Tortonian soils composed of calcareous marl and sand. This unique geology imparts an unmistakable aromatic lift and a lighter, more ethereal frame compared to other Barolo crus. The vineyard’s ideal southern exposure ensures the Nebbiolo reaches full maturity while maintaining the structural tension that defines this historic estate.