Giuseppe Cortese Barbaresco

Wine Description

Today, Cortese is the typical small, family-run winery. Attentive and rigorous care of the estate’s vineyards, strict selection of the best clusters, a traditional approach to vinification, and a touch of modern technique are the ingredients that define the unmistakable personality and unique flavors of Cortese’s wines. With an unrivaled understanding of the Nebbiolo grape, profound respect and knowledge of the terroir of Barbaresco, and long-held family traditions, Giuseppe Cortese is able to craft some of Piedmont’s most exceptional wines.

Piercarlo and Giuseppe Cortese
Giuseppe Cortese Vineyard and Estate
Giuseppe Cortese Wine Cellar
Giuseppe Cortese Barbera Grapes
Cortese Family
Giueseppe Cortese Cantina
Giueseppe Cortese Bed and Breakfast
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Acclaim
“A red with beautiful crushed-berry, earth and floral aromas and flavors. It’s medium- to full-bodied with round tannins and a fruity yet fresh finish. Shows form and tension for this ripe vintage.”
— James Suckling, Jul 2020
“Sourced from four parcels within the cru of Rabaja, the 2017 Barbaresco was aged for 18 months in large Slavonian oak prior to bottle aging. Its high-toned floral aromatics give way to cranberry, clove, and orange zest. The palate is fresh, medium-bodied, and inviting, with pomegranate, peach, and dried tea leaf. Fine grained with an approachable structure, the 2017 is prime for drinking over the next ten to fifteen years.”
— Jeb Dunnuck, May 2021
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Vineyard & Production Info
Production area/appellation:
Barbaresco DOCG
Vineyard name
Rabaja
Vineyard size
1.5 hectares acres
Soil composition
calcareous with clay
Training method
guyot
Elevation:
270 mslm feet
Exposure:
south/southwest
Year vineyard planted:
1990-2005
Harvest time:
October
First vintage of this wine:
2017
Bottles produced of this wine:
10,000
Average Vine Age:
25 years
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Winemaking & Aging
Maceration length:
20-25 days
Fermentation container:
concrete tanks
Maceration technique:
pump over
Malolactic fermentation:
yes
Fining agent:
none
Type of aging container:
oak
Size of aging container:
16-26 hl
Type of oak:
Slavonian
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
10-15 years
Length of bottle aging:
7 months minimum
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.5
Acidity:
5.7 g/L
Alcohol:
14.5 %
Dry extract:
29.5 g/L
Residual sugar:
<1 g/L
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Wine Production

A mid to long fermentation without addition of yeast; 18 months of aging in used slavonian oak casks.

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About the Vineyard

Contrary to how it may appear when seen from a distance, the Rabajà hill is anything but homogeneous and can be broadly divided into at least two areas. The first bordering on Asili coincides with the picturesque amphitheatre overlooking the Martinenga cru, and mostly enjoys a south-westerly aspect. The second, on the other hand, is more linear and faces due south, though within it there are some evident variations due to marked undulations around the hillside. In both cases, the style of the wine is however richer and bolder than the Asili and Martinenga (although a more uncompromising, mineral character tends to emerge in the second area).