2004 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate/Le Coste

There aren’t too many surprises here; the 2004 is every bit as refined as it has always been. Beautifully layered and nuanced, with tons of energy and vibrancy, the Brunate-Le Coste shows just how striking the best wines are in 2004. The detail and depth here are unreal.

The 2004 Barolo Brunate - Le Coste is utterly exquisite. I chose to start the tasting with the 2004, as I hoped it would show enough nuance and softness to lead into some of the more important wines. The 2004 does that, and so much more. Sweet, perfumed and gracious, the 2004 is pure silk. The flavors are translucent, while the wine remains light on its feet. Expressive floral notes and ripe tannins add to the wine’s sheer appeal. This is a vintage I bought heavily, and am happy to have done so, as multiple tastings have confirmed my very positive initial impressions.

Beppe Rinaldi's 2004 Barolo Brunate-Le Coste is one of the most surprising wines of the year in that it has put on quite a bit of weight in bottle. Explosive, voluptuous and gripping in its intensity, the 2004 is a real head-turner, that much is obvious. Sweet, balsamic aromas and flavors - one of the key Brunate signatures - develop in the glass, yet a sense of classic austerity remains, which suggests the 2004 still needs time. While so many 2004s are drinking well today, the Rinaldi is one wine I would continue to cellar, as it is a baby. My distinct impression today is that the 2004 is still on its ascent. How high it will go is anyone's guess, but it will be high. Very high. Tasted from both bottle and magnum.