Create a New Account get a $5 credit
Toll Free: 800-417-7821

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco Rabaja 2018

ID No: 448425
Our Price: $60.00 $55.00
6 bottles with free shipping for: $330.00
8 bottles with free shipping for: $400.00
BUY MORE! SAVE MORE!
Quantity: MSRP:1+6+8+
Price: $60.00$55.00$55.00$50.00
Savings:- 8%8%17%
Free Shipping:-
 Wine Enthusiast: 96
Country:Italy
Regions:Piemonte
Barbaresco
Winery:Giuseppe Cortese
Grape Type:Nebbiolo
Organic:Yes
Vintage:2018
Bottle Size:750 ml
Product Description

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco   Rabaja is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo. 


This wine is made entirely from Nebbiolo grapes grown in Barbaresco's prestigious Rabajà vineyard, located in the Langhe hills just to the south of Cortese’s winery. To achieve the perfect structural balance, the wine is aged for twenty-two months in seasoned Slavonian oak casks, then bottled and cellared for an additional thirteen months.

Tasting Notes Unfiltered to preserve its richness, this remarkably elegant Barbaresco offers concentrated aromas of raspberries, roses, violets, leather and spice. Full-bodied with robust flavor and firm tannins.

Food Pairing This Barbaresco pairs well with roasted meat or wild game dishes.


Review:

Fragrant and loaded with finesse, this stunner opens with enticing scents of rose, violet, perfumed berry and camphor. Smooth and extremely elegant, the vibrant, savory palate features juicy red cherry, blood orange and crushed raspberry while star anise and mineral notes suggesting rusty nail—and that's a good thing—add depth. Bright acidity and lithe tannins lend balance and seamless support. It's all about elegance and energy. Drink 2023–2030. Kerin O’Keefe

-Wine Enthusiast 96 Points

Winery: Giuseppe Cortese

The wines of Giuseppe Cortese are every Piedmont aficionado’s dream. Located in the heart of the famous Rabajà zone, this small, family-owned winery, known for producing exquisitely balanced wines from the Barbaresco zone, is run by those who possess an intimate knowledge of the Nebbiolo grape. With profound respect and knowledge of the Barbaresco terroir, and long-held family traditions, Giuseppe Cortese is able to craft some of Piedmont’s most exceptional wines.

A native of Barbaresco, Giuseppe Cortese began a lifelong passion for winemaking by working with his father Giacomo in the family business. After several years of experience, he realized the future of high-quality Barbaresco wines was in developing the potential of the terroir. With this in mind, Giuseppe began re-orienting the family’s wine business and remodeling the winery, improving vinification techniques, and purchasing new land among the famous Rabajà vineyards. Giuseppe’s son Piercarlo joined him in the 1990s, after graduating from the highly regarded Enological School of Alba. Today, Cortese is the typical small, family-run winery, with Giuseppe’s wife Rosella and daughter Tiziana playing active roles in commercial aspects and public relations.


Location of Vineyard

The Cortese winery is located in the hamlet of Rabajà, within the prestigious commune of Barbaresco. Just a mile from the ancient town of Barbaresco, along the Via Rabajà, the Cortese winery and family home sit atop the bowl that cradles the Rabajà cru vineyard, one of Barbaresco’s finest single vineyards. On the other side of Cortese’s 20 acres of vines, in the adjacent village of Trifolera, sits its beautiful, newly finished bed & breakfast, with idyllic views of row after row of Nebbiolo stretching below.


Winemaking Philosophy

Attentive, rigorous care of the estate’s vineyards, strict selection of the best clusters, a traditional approach to vinification, and a gentle hand with modern techniques are the ingredients that define the unmistakable personality and unique flavors of Cortese’s wines. Before running his own winery, Giuseppe Cortese served as cellar master and vineyard manager for some of Piedmont’s most prestigious wineries. During this time, he gained invaluable knowledge of the Nebbiolo grape and how to maximize its potential in and around the Barbaresco zone.


The winery is located in an underground cellar nestled in the upper hillside of the Rabajà vineyard and houses various sizes of the larger traditional botti (large barrels) used for the vinification of Nebbiolo. Cortese believes that each lot needs to be treated individually and thus requires several different sizes of aging vessels. All this attention to detail yields wines of incredible depth and balance, with a finesse that rewards the patient consumer.


Customers who bought this product also purchased
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico 2020

Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico is made from 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot.

The vineyards of Volpaia are among the highest in Chianti. Their Chianti Classico is characterized by elegance and finesse with a rich bouquet of red fruits and spices.

Review:

Black-cherry and orange-peel aromas and flavors. Some lead pencil and slate, too. It’s medium-bodied with fine tannins and firm acidity, which adds verve and tension to the wine. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

-James Suckling 93 Points 


A bright, succulent style, this exudes cherry, strawberry, earth and tobacco aromas and flavors, with spicy character. Shows vibrant structure and balance, with a lingering finish. Sangiovese and Merlot.

-Wine Spectator 92 Points


 Wine Spectator: 92 93 Points
Lucienne Lone Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

Lucienne Lone Oak Vineyard Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

This Pinot Noir is silky and complex, displaying multiple layers of aromatics as it opens. Initial aromas of raspberry and strawberry are followed by a hint of earthy mushrooms. Complexity continues on the palate with silky tannins, flavors of raspberry tart, red cherry and subtle notes of spice on a supple and slightly crisp finish.


Review:

Vivid red. A finely detailed bouquet evokes Fresh red berries, baking spices and incense, along with a hint of potpourri that builds with aeration. Concentrated but surprisingly lithe Chambord cherry-vanilla and spice cake flavors show fine clarity and become deeper on the back half. Shows noteworthy energy and spicy thrust on an impressively persistent, red fruit-dominated finish that's framed by discreet fine-grained tannins. 40% new French oak.

-Vinous 94 Points

 Vinous Antonio Galloni: 94
Pierinvaletta Barbaresco 2019

Pierinvaletta Barbaresco is made from 100% Nebbiolo

Rich, Full bodied, Intense.
Pierin Valetta is one of the ancestor of the Family and these wines are dedicated to him as we would like to thank him for giving us vineyards that reach up to 70 years old.

Made from 70 years old vines planted on clay soils. 
Aged 30 months in French and Slovanian Oak barrels.
Wine wasn't filtered before bottling.

 


Collemattoni Rosso di Montalcino 2020

Color: intense ruby red. 

Bouquet:violet flowers, black cherry and wild black fruits.
Taste: warm, dry and with good balance.

Coming from a parcel with 8-13 year old vines planted in sandy clay and marl soils.
Harvest is 100% destemmed with a soft pressing, fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature of 28-30°C, pumping over for the first week of maceration followed by skin-contact maceration for 20-25 days with rack and return technique (delestage).
Malolactic fermentation completed.
Wine is slightly filtered before bottling.

Pairs with steak, pheasants and strong cheese.


Review:

"Dusted cranberries, racy plums and roasted spices follow through to a medium-bodied palate with firm, nicely chewy tannins and a juicy finish. A savory and elegant Rosso. Well made. Drink in the next 3-4 years."

- James Suckling (July 2022), 91 pts







 91 Points
Blind Justice Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Blind Justice Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is made from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc.

Blind Justice is a pure expression of Napa Cabernet exclusively from Beckstoffer’s ‘To-Kalon’ vineyard. The true heart of the famed Oakville appellation, this vineyard highlights the decadent essence of Napa Cabernet to perfection, with vines rooted in loamy alluvial soil that adds depth, nuance, and structure. An absolute stunner, and the flagship of the Justice offerings, this is the wine that epitomizes the adventurous and pioneering soul of the Napa Valley.

Baking spices like clove and cocoa jump out of the glass and are then met with aromas of ripe black cherry and vanilla. The cherry shows up again on the palate along with other dark red and purple fruits. This wine lingers for days with a rich core and luscious mouthfeel.


Review:

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Blind Justice Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard is straight-up terrific. Based on 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Cabernet Franc from a handful of blocks in this great site in Oakville, aged 20 months in 78% new oak, it has a beautiful cassis, wildflower, and sappy herb-driven bouquet as well as a rich yet seamless style on the palate. This full-bodied beauty pairs richness and elegance perfectly, has ripe tannins, terrific balance, and is going to evolve for two decades.

-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points

 97 Points
Mordoree Tavel Rose Reine des Bois 2021

Mordoree Tavel Rose Reine des Bois is made from Grenache 60 % Clairette 15% Syrah 10 % Cinsault 10% Bourboulenc 5%.

Nose: Steady rose, brilliant and cristal clear.
Aromas : very complex : from flowers, white fruits and red fruits (strawberries, pomegranate, rapsberry). Slightly mentho-lated
Palate : fresh, classy, elegant, very long.
Aging capacity : 8 to 10 years.

This wine comes from a parcel planted on a pebbled soil covered with stones, whose geology is typical of the grands crus from the Rhone Valley (a base made of marine molasse from the Miocene period covered with an alpine diluvium from the Villafranchian period). 100 % destemming, cold maceration during 48 h., pneumatic pressing, fermentation at 18° C.

To pair with: roasted and or spicy chicken, duck, goose, fish soup, white meat, seafood and a lot of fishes (tuna, John Dorry, red mulet, etc...).Quite all Asian cuisine. Dishes with garlic, dishes with tomatoes.

Review:

A powerful core of black cherry and plum flavors reverberates throughout this profoundly ripe, stately wine that's anchored in minerality and freshness. A Grenache-based blend of both red and white regional grapes, it's a deeply extracted, garnet-hued rosé that truly straddles the lines between red and white winemaking. Framed with tea tannins, it's a satisfying year-round sip that will hold well into 2024.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points




 Wine Enthusiast: 94
Try these Similar In Stock Wines
Cortese Barbaresco 2019

Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo. 

This Barbaresco stands out for its harmonious, well-balanced expression, with a luscious floral-scented bouquet, magisterial structure, and lingering taste. At once crisp and elegant, with a succulent mouthfeel this superb classic lends itself to immediate enjoyment or to medium/long-term cellaring.


Review:
Fragrant purple flower, red berry and wild herb aromas mingle in the glass together with a whiff of camphor. Tightly wound and linear, the youthfully austere palate shows crushed raspberry, Marasca cherry and star anise framed in taut, tightly knit tannins and bright acidity. Drink through 2031.
Wine Enthusiast Editors' Choice 95 Points

 

 Wine Enthusiast: 95
Gaja Barbaresco 2018

Gaja Barbaresco is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.

The flagship of the Gaja family, this wine is produced from Nebbiolo grapes and named for its village of origin. Deep garnet in color, the aroma is complex and sensual with notes of forest fruit, plum, licorice, mineral and coffee. The texture is supple with fine, silky tannins and bright acidity leading to a long finish.

STYLE: Complex, Dense, Structured

FLAVOR: Forest Fruit, Plum, Licorice, Mineral, Coffee

After fermentation is complete, the separate lots are then aged for one year in barriques (20% new, with a balance in one and two year old casks). The 14 lots are then blended and racked to large Slavonian oak casks ranging in age from five to fifteen years.


Review:

Fragrant and loaded with extraordinary finesse, this radiant red offers intense aromas of rose, violet, perfumed berry and camphor. The savory palate boasts flavor, energy and almost ethereal elegance, featuring red cherry, raspberry compote and baking spice alongside taut, polished tannins. It closes on a note of star anise while vibrant acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. It’s already enjoyable but will also offer years of fine wining. Drink through 2033.

-Wine Enthusiast 98 Points



 Wine Enthusiast: 98
Silver Oak Timeless Soda Canyon Ranch Red 2018

When the founding fathers of the Napa Valley carved out new sub-AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in the 1980s, Soda Canyon Ranch was not yet on anyone’s map. The vineyard is neighbored to the northwest and west by the winegrowing districts of Stags Leap District and Oak Knoll District, respectively, which were among the early pioneers of California Cabernet Sauvignon to attain global fame. To the northeast and southeast—and further off the beaten path—were Atlas Peak and Coombsville, thought to be the next frontiers for the emerging wine-producing region.

With richness and depth of flavor, the 2018 Timeless Napa Valley is the embodiment of patience and attention to detail. Decades of experience at Soda Canyon Ranch allow winemaker Nate Weis and team to highlight the individual merits of each block. Combining the strongest lots from each resulted in a refined and harmonious bottling.

In 2018, the diurnal shift at Soda Canyon Ranch produced a darker, lusher fruit profile of Cabernet Sauvignon. Simultaneously, the overnight recovery periods resulted in expressive and refined Merlot, giving the wine a pleasant profile of bright, red fruit. With an extended harvest window, the signature, plush density and structure of Petit Verdot is also prevalent in the final blend. Cabernet Franc thrived in 2018 with its predilection for the cooler soils and the climate of blocks 5, 6, 16, 20 and 21—areas we call the Transition Zone and Hardpan Alley. The variety’s floral and tobacco-like aromatics are accentuated, and its more aggressive nature for back-end tannins tamed.

Once blended, the 2018 vintage rested in French oak barrels for 16 months, developing flavors of vanilla and baking spice. Velvety tannins dance across the palate of bright and lingering cassis. With a smooth finish, this is a comforting wine of elegance and depth—a sophisticated expression of the sedate summer.

Review:

This is a little old-school and shows lots of dark berry, chocolate and dried fruit. It’s full, dense and layered with fleshly sensibility. Velvety texture.

-James Suckling 93 Points

 93 Points
Spinona Bricco Faset Barbaresco 2018

Spinona Bricco Faset Barbaresco is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.

This single-vineyard Barbaresco comes from Pietro Berutti's 8 hectares of coveted vineyards on the top of the historic hill, Faset. It is 270 meters above sea level with a south, south-east exposure. The vines are an average of 35 years old. Only organic farming practices are used. The natural fertilizer comes from the 100 head of cattle that they have and no herbicides or pesticides are used.

Barbaresco shows a deep ruby red color with garnet reflections. An intense bouquet with hints of ripe cherries, wild berries and spice. White pepper, licorice and mint blend with enticing floral notes. Mouth-filling and well-structured with a full, velvety body and an austere and long finish.

HARVEST: late October. The grapes are harvested by hand in perforated baskets to allow air to pass through the bunches. The pressing is soft. Cold maceration for 24 hours at 12°C (for certain years).

WINEMAKING: Soft pressing with an initial cold maceration on the skins for 24 hours at 12C. Specially selected yeasts are used. Fermentation takes place for 12 to 14 days in stainless steel at 28-29 °C under temperature controlled conditions. There is a pumping over on the skins. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is racked and goes through a delicate pressing to obtain only the best wine.

AGING : 12-15 months in large 25 hectolitre wooden barrels of Allier and Slavonian oak.

REFINING: in the bottle for 12-15 months in a temperature-controlled environment.

Excellent with game, red meats, truffle dishes and aged cheeses.

 This single-vineyard Barbaresco comes from Pietro Berutti's 8 hectares of coveted vineyards on the top of the historic hill, Faset. It is 270 meters above sea level with a south, south-east exposure. The vines are an average of 35 years old. Only organic farming practices are used. The natural fertilizer comes from the 100 head of cattle that they have and no herbicides or pesticides are used.

Barbaresco shows a deep ruby red color with garnet reflections. An intense bouquet with hints of ripe cherries, wild berries and spice. White pepper, licorice and mint blend with enticing floral notes. Mouth-filling and well-structured with a full, velvety body and an austere and long finish.

Review:

"Aromas of flowers, berries and sandalwood follow through to a medium body, fine tannins and a creamy, polished finish. So fine and pretty now. Why wait? Drink now."

- James Suckling (August 2022), 93 pts


 93 Points
Alain Jaume Domaine du Clos de Sixte Lirac 2018


Alain Jaume Domaine du Clos de Sixte Lirac  is made from 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre

An intense red garnet color. On the nose, aromas of red and black ripe fruit (kirsch and wild blackberry). The mouth is full, with aromas of blackcurrant liqueur and spice. Tannins are both harmonious and elegant thanks to the fleshiness of the wine. Hints of licorice and vanilla on the finish, which gives the wine length and complexity.

Soil type LIRAC vineyard is facing Chateauneuf du Pape, opposite side of the Rhône river. As showed by the picture and following geologist George Truc, soils are almost similar in both side. They are marked by the violence wrought by the Rhone river. It consists of a layer of marine molasses of the Miocene period covered by alpine alluvium. The presence of a great number of rounded stones known as "galets" in the earth is evidence of the time when the Rhone, then a torrent, tore fragments of rock from the Alps and deposited them on the plain. LIRAC is one of the up-coming best area from the southern Rhône valley, as it delivers outstanding wines. Winemaking & ageing Traditional wine-making in stainless still vats. Hand sorted bunches, crushed and destemmed grapes. Fermentation temperature : 30°C. 18 days of vatting with pigeages.

 

Review:

"Another top-notch vintage for this property, the 2018 Lirac Domaine du Clos de Sixte looks as if it may rival the 2016. It's 50% Grenache, 35% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre, aging in concrete (70%) and barrels (30%). Floral notions mark the nose, while flavors of raspberries and apricots appear on the full-bodied palate. This seems creamy-supple at first, with steadily building tannins on the lengthy finish. - Joe Czerwinski"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 91-93 pts

 Wine Advocate: 93
Alejandro Bulgheroni Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

It is hard to imagine with the Lithology range receiving 298 points out of 300 for the three single-vineyard wines, that there could possibly be a wine above them. But there is, and it is our Estate wine. Blended several times very intently by masters of their craft Philippe Melka and Michel Rolland, this is the ultimate expression of our house’s work. Positive, full-bodied, and quite powerful, there’s the expected crème de cassis and blackberry from St. Helena Cabernets, with mineral, herb, subtle tobacco and vanilla, plum skins, and pie crust, purple flowers, forest-conifer notes, and very fine tannic structure. It is a magnificent, and magnificently elegant expression of this house, and when asked recently, Monsieur Rolland stated plainly to me, “oh yes indeed – this is the best one, the best yet…”


Review:

The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Alejandro Bulgheroni comes from a selection made by winemakers Philippe Melka and Michel Rolland, mostly from Rutherford and Oakville fruit. Aged 20 months in 78% new French oak, it has incredible aromatics of black and blue fruits, spring flowers, and graphite to go with a massive, full-bodied, concentrated style on the palate that somehow stays graceful, weightless, and elegant. This tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is guaranteed to put a smile on your face over the coming 20-25+ years.

-Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points


 99 Points
  • back