2011 Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva
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Tasting notes
The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà delivers a savory and evolved quality with tar, resin and pipe tobacco. There is some vague primary fruit that comes forth as dried blackberry and black currant. Smoke and tangy spice appear in thick waves over the finish. This was a hot vintage, and my impression is that the fruit is gradually moving toward the dry side of the spectrum. I would suggest a drinking window of 10 to 15 years as a result. Only 6,000 bottles were made. This wine is only made in the best vintages, and the last vintage released was 2008.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a total pleasure bomb. Just as captivating (if not more) than it has been in the past, the 2011 exudes remarkable class. A burst of sweet red berry fruit, hard candy and wild flowers makes a strong first impression, but what impresses most is the wine's sublime freshness.
The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a fabulous choice for readers who want to experience a first-rate wine without waiting for years and years. A wine of volume, intensity and power, the 2011 hits the palate with notable resonance. Ripe, silky tannins add to the wine's immense appeal. There is no question the 2011 shows the exotic ripeness of the year, and yet there is more than enough freshness to balance the wine's more overt leanings. Don't miss it.
The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà opens with captivating aromatics. Sweet rose petal, mint, anise, sweet red cherry, plum and pomegranate are all infused in a silky, nuanced Barbaresco with a good deal of brightness. The 2011 finishes with striking aromatic presence and tons of expressive floral notes. It is a gorgeous wine in the making. Pier Carlo Cortese gave this fruit approximately 25-30 days on the skins and the wine spent about 40 months in cask. To be released in 2018.