Recommended by the New York Times, Wine Spectator, Food & Wines, and Many More. Check out our recent Press.

Award-winning NYC wine shop – free local delivery & fast nationwide shipping. Learn more

Giuseppe Cortese, Barbaresco Rabaja, 2016

Red Wine from Piedmont, Italy
by Giuseppe Cortese
$76.99
Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout.
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles

Rabajà is one of Barbaresco's great crus, and the Cortese family has farmed a chunk of it for generations from their cellar right in the heart of the vineyard — a natural amphitheater beside Asili looking out over Martinenga, running from roughly 235 to 315 meters and facing south and southwest. This is old-school, traditional Barbaresco: Nebbiolo grown on the prized marl-limestone slopes of Rabajà, fermented in stainless steel and old cement tanks with a long maceration and aged in large Slavonian casks, vinified without flash or excess oak. 2016 was a cool, unhurried growing season and counts among the greatest Piedmont vintages of the last fifty years, but greatness here means patience: at ten years old the wine is still coiled, its tannins fine but firm and its perfume only beginning to unwind. Decant it several hours ahead if you are opening it now, or put it away for another five to ten years. A bottle for the patient drinker.

Shipping

Every step of the journey is managed to uphold the integrity of each bottle.

  • Nationwide Access: Flat-rate shipping available to most U.S. states with delivery in 3-5 business days.
  • Temperature-Monitored Shipping: We closely monitor weather conditions and make informed decisions to ensure shipments travel safely, with insulated packaging and refrigerated transport available when required.
  • Wine-Specific Protective Packaging: Specialized materials designed to maintain label integrity and prevent breakage during transit.
  • Provenance Assured: All wines are maintained in climate-controlled conditions at our shop until the moment of dispatch.

Returns & Exchanges

We stand behind every bottle we sell.

  • Corked wine? Full refund or exchange within 60 days
  • Damaged shipment? Contact us within 48 hours
  • Storage or quality concerns? We're here to help


View our complete return policy →

Have Questions?

Our team is here to help.

Hours

Sunday - Thursday: 12 pm - 8 pm

Friday: 11am - 9pm

Saturday: 10am - 9pm

Email: help@flatiron-wines.com
Phone: (212) 477-1315

Antonio Galloni

94 points

"The 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà is fresh, vibrant and pulsing with energy, all signatures of this important Barbaresco vintage. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, smoke, dried herbs and menthol are all wonderfully alive in the glass. This is such an expressive and vivid wine. Layers of aromatic and flavor intensity really come alive with aeration." —Antonio Galloni

Robert Parker

87 points

"I am not confident regarding the state of my samples for the 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà. I suspect there are hints of something related to Brettanomyces or an old barrel that are very subtle at the moment but could worsen over time. Traditionally, this Barbaresco that sees 22 months in Slavonian oak has produced some great vintages, with very interesting notes of tar, leather and licorice, but I found less of all that here. Some 11,000 bottles were made. This historic wine was first released with the 1971 vintage." — Monica Larner

Decanter

95 points

"The Cortese brothers are among the finest producers of this great cru, and this 2016 is outstanding. The nose is rich and vibrant, with raspberry coulis aromas. High ripeness is immediately discernible but not overblown. Rich and velvety on the palate, it is sleek but concentrated, with finely judged density of fruit that never seems excessive. There’s depth, weight and considerable power here, with a long, complex finish."

Kerin O'Keefe

96 points

"Aromas of underbrush, camphor, violet, dark culinary spice, new leather and dark-skinned fruit lead the way. The structured, full-bodied palate shows juicy red cherry, raspberry, orange zest, ground clove, star anise and truffle alongside fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. It boasts elegance and structure. Drink 2024–2036." —Kerin O'Keefe

More about Giuseppe Cortese

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Nebbiolo

  • Vintage

    2016

  • Size

    750ml

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

What has to say about this wine:

Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Braised beef, mushroom risotto, roasted veal, aged Castelmagno or Parmigiano, or game in autumn.

Tasting Profile

Dried cherry, rose, tar and truffle. Medium to full-bodied with bright acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins that still need time. Long, savory finish.