2023 Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Langhe Freisa, Piedmont, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

100% Freisa. Historical and iconic vineyard in the municipality of La Morra, purchased by the family in 1969, and which boasts an excellent south-east facing and an altitude of approximately 200 meters in the lower part. The soil consists of sandstone and calcareous conglomerates, hence its name Rocche (rocks), which provide good water drainage. Vines planted in 2020.

The grapes are macerated for five days in stainless steel vats. After separating the skins (in order to enhance freshness) from the juice, fermentation goes on for another 10 days. Afterwards, the young wine ages for six months in 1000 Liter Slavonian oak casks.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The great traditionalist estate of Francesco Rinaldi e Figli is one of the greatest names in Piemonte. Located in the town of Barolo itself, the domaine of Francesco Rinaldi was founded in 1870, when Giovanni Battista Rinaldi, the father of Francesco Rinaldi, inherited a vineyard and house in Barolo, inducing him to leave behind his work with the very large Mirafiore estate and set out on his own. His family at that time also had ties to the then-greatest estate in the Barolo region, Barale-Rinaldi. Francesco’s brother, Giuseppe Rinaldi, was the great-grandfather of Carlotta and Marta Rinaldi (the sisters currently running the Giuseppe Rinaldi winery). The husband of Francesco’s sister Margherita had the last name Barale and it was they who had the famous Barale-Rinaldi estate (where the current Francesco Rinaldi winery is found). These two superb family wineries have marched down through time, both upholding the unique, traditional style of Barolo that has been championed by other great names in Piemonte, such as Bartolo Mascarello and Bruno Giacosa. One hundred and thirty years later, many of the same techniques are still used in the Francesco Rinaldi cellars to produce some of Barolos greatest wines. The current head of the family estate is the spry, Luciano Rinaldi, who took over the reins of the family winery back in 1941. Luciano turns 100 years old in September of 2025! Today his nieces, Paola & Piera Rinaldi, run the winery. Starting in 2023, they are being assisted by Elisa and Francesca Rinaldi, Pieras daughters. They continue to make beautiful wines within the great traditions of Barolo, with no new oak, long macerations, and long aging in large Slavonian oak botti before bottling. The only thing that has changed here is that Luciano no longer crushes the grapes by foot himself, as a new press is one of the only nods to modernity in these great old cellars. However, all the traditions that continue to be embraced here do not mean that this is a winery lost in the past, as their beautiful wines have never been better than they are today. While the estate of Francesco Rinaldi is most famous for its long-lived and brilliant Barolo bottlings made from three of the region’s greatest vineyards, Brunate, Cannubi, and Rocche dellAnunziata, the entire lineup of wines up and down the quality hierarchy are made with the same meticulous care and commitment to excellence. The lower-level wines are superb examples of their genres, with impressive depth, complexity and classic structures, whether they be the deep Nebbiolo dAlba made from younger vines not destined for the Barolo or Barbaresco bottlings, the tangy and red fruity Grignolino which drinks beautifully in its youth (a rarity amongst the cellar-worthy Rinaldi lineup) or the round, full-bodied and surprisingly serious Dolcetto dAlba Roussot from vineyards located within the cru of Cannubi.