2019 Barolo Brunate

Sisters Marta and Carlotta Rinaldi presented a stellar set of 2019 Barolos, including the first release of their new Barolo from Bussia. It has not been an easy time for the family of late. The Rinaldi sisters have dealt with the loss of both of their parents over the last few years, which has, among other things, placed them fully in charge of the family domaine.

"I suppose a year like 2019 feels 'cooler' than some recent vintages, but that is only because the parameters of what these things mean have changed in recent times, Carlotta Rinaldi explained. "Certainly 2019 is not a cool year compared to the norm 20-30 years ago. For example, we had temperatures in excess of 38.5°C (101.3°F) in Cannubi. The approach has changed here over the last decade. The 2019s spent 20-30 days on the skins, depending on the parcel, with two pump-overs a day and punch-downs only at the end of fermentation, when the sugars are almost all gone, whereas Beppe Rinaldi employed more punch-downs in vintages such as 2010. There is never submerged cap maceration at Rinaldi, while aging is done entirely in cask. Readers will note the addition of a new Barolo from Bussia, a wine family matriarch Annalisa Rinaldi was especially fond of. Tasting it, I can see why, as it is truly magnificent.