1978 Barolo Riserva Brunate
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Tasting notes
Our evening comes to a rousing finish with the 1978 Barolo delle Brunate Riserva Speciale, a wine that more than lives up to all the expectations surrounding it. Rich, dark and enveloping, the 1978 possesses tremendous drive and intensity in all of its dimensions. Spice, tobacco and leather are some of the many notes that develop in a towering wine that encapsulates a legendary vintage and a simpler time in Piedmont’s history. Let’s be clear, the past is often over-romanticized. The past was not always better than the present. But tasting the 1978 really does seem like taking a time machine back into another era. Moving and haunting in its beauty, the 1978 is without question one of the wines of the night.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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We follow that up with Giuseppe Rinaldi’s 1978 Barolo Riserva Selezionata Brunate, a wine that captures all of the intensity, depth and virile power that makes this vintage so compelling. The 1978, which was made by Battista Rinaldi, is simply monumental. What a treat it is to savor a bottle over several leisurely hours.
The 1978 Barolo Riserva Brunate (magnum) is another wine I feel deeply fortunate to be able to taste and drink. Although not a perfect example, the 1978 is still quite beautiful and a poignant reminder of just how great this Barolo can be.
Giuseppe Rinaldi's 1978 Barolo Riserva Brunate was the highlight of this incredible evening. It possessed notable richness and density in a concentrated, decadent expression of everything that typifies the qualities of great Brunate. It was also among the most youthful wines of the night. Sadly, most bottles will probably be drunk before they are ready. Simply put, this was a wine of heroic dimension and scale.
About the producer
Giuseppe Rinaldi is one of the most famous names in Piedmont, revered for producing staunchly traditional, highly collectable Nebbiolo wines.