Giuseppe Cortese – Barbaresco, Piemonte

The story of the winery is the story of a family that has been protecting and enhancing Barbaresco since 1971. The family winegrowing tradition is now carried on by Giuseppe’s children, Pier Carlo, Tiziana, and son-in-law Gabriele, who look ahead with the determination that has always been the Cortese family’s most distinguishing feature. Attentive, rigorous care of the estate’s vineyards, strict selection, a traditional approach to vinification, and a gentle hand with modern techniques are the ingredients that define the unmistakable personality and unique flavours of Cortese’s wines.

Aged for 9 to 10 months in 1/3 oak (40% new), amphora and stainless steel, the Chardonnay Scapulin exhibits ripe orchard fruits, mineral white berries and a caramel/salty tang. The Barbera is intense and velvety with a dry and full body. The estate also produces 500 cases of Barbera Morassina from 1 hectare in the Trifolera zone (the vineyard’s name is Morassina), with south, south-westerly exposure. 18 months in small French wood barrels (225 L) 30% new and 70% used. The Langhe Nebbiolo is an attractive, light-bodied wine in an airy, weightless style, most of the fruit coming from young vines in Rabajà The natural amphitheatre of the Rabajà cru is one of the most respected in the denomination. The estate Barbaresco sees 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels of 5/6 years minimum age with 6 months in bottle before release. The highly lauded Barbaresco Rabaja comes from 4ha of 50 year old vines, is fermented with wild yeasts and aged in casks of 17 to 25 hl of up to 9 years age. It sees a minimum of 10 months in bottle before release.