1996 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba #166870607
Reviews 98 points Wine Advocate "The 1996 Barolo Falletto de Serralunga (Red Label Riserva) possesses extraordinary presence and stature. Dark garnet/ruby-colored, it offers a tight but promising nose of road tar, scorched earth, truffles, blackberries, cherries, and espresso. This muscular, massive wine gave me chills. It is an exquisite, virtually perfect Barolo that requires a decade of cellaring, and should last for 30-40 years. I remember wishing I were twenty years younger when I tasted it prior to bottling ... I still feel the same way. Awesome! (RP)" 98 points Vinous "As much as I don't believe in the idea of competition in wine, there is simply no doubt that Bruno Giacosa's 1996 Barolo Riserva Falletto is both one of the greatest wines he ever made and also the single most emotionally moving wine from Piedmont's 1996 vintage. Once again, the 1996 Barolo Riserva Falletto more than lives up to its lofty reputation. The wine needs time in the decanter for some initial VA funk to blow off, but when it does, what emerges is a Barolo of utterly captivating beauty. Bruno Giacosa’s finest wines are defined by haunting inner sweetness and extraordinary perfume. The 1996 has all that, and so much more, starting with a full vibrant red color and tons of intensity. Time has mellowed the tannins to some degree, but my sense is that the 1996 will always remain somewhat brutish in feel. Even so, there is no denying its allure. Readers lucky enough to own the 1996 should be ecstatic. It is one of the world’s truly great, great wines. (AG)"
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About Bruno Giacosa
Bruno Giacosa, a luminary in the world of wine, achieved prominence through his visionary approach to winemaking, highlighting the Piedmont region's exceptional vineyards. For over five decades, his commitment to traditional practices and keen insight into the region's top vineyard parcels set a new standard for Nebbiolo wines from Nieve, Serralunga d’Alba, and La Morra, particularly his acclaimed "Falletto." His daughter Bruna, and his mentee Dante Scaglione, sustain this legacy today with unwavering dedication.
With 20 hectares of vineyards primarily planted with Nebbiolo and Arneis, the Giacosa estate also collaborates with trusted growers, a longstanding partnership established by Bruno himself. The team opts for an earlier harvest, focusing on prime ripeness to preserve the fruit's vitality. Post-harvest, the wines undergo short macerations in stainless steel followed by traditional aging in large French oak botti for up to four years. This process results in wines with a distinctive balance of power and elegance, delivering rich, perfumed profiles and a robust yet supple structure.
Bruno Giacosa's reputation extends beyond the Piedmont, his distinctive red label Riserva Barolos and Barbarescos often matching the world's top red wines in complexity, richness, and aging potential. Maintaining a rigorous standard, Bruno bestowed his red label on only a select few, leading to exceptional quality even in his more typical white label releases.
Bruno Giacosa's approach to winemaking was deeply rooted in tradition, his profound understanding of vineyard nuances, and a desire for perfection. His pursuit of showcasing each unique vineyard site's distinct character continues under Bruna's stewardship, who upholds her father's philosophy to respect tradition and leverage the best of modern technology. Consequently, every bottle of Bruno Giacosa wine carries a promise of exceptional quality and genuine expression of terroir, making these wines truly unique and worth treasuring.