1961 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo

Known as “Citrico” for his sharp wit, the late Beppe Rinaldi was a character, grouchy, brilliant and deeply philosophical, and one of the staunchest defenders of traditional Barolo. His daughters Marta and Carlotta carry on his legacy. The estate works with great crus such as Brunate, Le Coste and Ravera and holds to the old philosophy of blending sites for balance; its “Tre Tine” is a brooding, intellectual wine that demands time.

Fermentation takes place in old open-top wooden vats, followed by ageing in large Slavonian oak, and the barrique has no place here. Rinaldi Barolos are known for their rustic elegance: austere, deep and profoundly complex, not polished but raw and honest, and they need years of patience to reveal themselves.

Old vintages show what that patience brings. The 1961, from a legendary year, has a savory profile of leather and spice, while 1964, a perfect growing season, was the counterpoint: where ’61 was power, ’64 was elegance, silky, perfumed and seamless.