2012 Barbaresco Rabaja

The 2012 Barbaresco Rabajà is dark, round and enveloping. Unusually round for a young Rabajà, the 2012 is going to provide readers with plenty of near and medium-term pleasure. The flavors are bright, floral and perfumed, with plenty of finesse, but fewer of the darker, more balsamic notes and imposing structure that are typical of Rabajà.

Barbaresco. Youthful, deep ruby. Sweet-sour cherry nose with real depth and complexity. Tightly wound, sweet-sour cherry fruit palate. Great stuffing and bones and length, but not yet knit together. (WS)

I am deeply impressed by Giuseppe Cortese's 2012 Barbaresco Rabajà. Son Pier Carlo is in charge of the estate today and has continued his father's winemaking legacy. This is a delicate and feminine wine that boasts bright and pristine intensity. The bouquet incorporates floral elements of violet and pressed rose. It fuses those subdued characteristics with balanced tones of red fruit, herb, licorice and spice. This Barbaresco sees a traditional aging regime of 22 months in Slovenian oak. This is a wine of enormous beauty.