2020 Giuseppe Rinaldi "Bussia" Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

The wine is 100% Nebbiolo fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, followed by extended skin contact of roughly 20-30 days. Finally, the wine was traditionally aged, following Giuseppe Rinaldi's philosophy. 

Bussia’s deeper marl and clay-rich soils tend to give Nebbiolo considerable structure and depth. Rinaldi selects fruit from the upper portion of the site for this bottling, including vines with southwest exposure. The deeper soils contribute to the wine’s dense constitution, substantial tannins, and long-aging character.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Giuseppe Rinaldi is one of the most revered names in traditional Barolo, with deep family roots in the village of Barolo. Giuseppe “Beppe” Rinaldi took over the estate from his father, Battista, in 1992 and became a passionate defender of classic Barolo during a period of rapid modernization in the region. He believed great Barolo should develop slowly, retain its natural structure and character, and have the ability to evolve beautifully over decades.

Rinaldi’s winemaking remained resolutely traditional, favoring indigenous-yeast fermentations, long macerations, and aging in large Slavonian oak botti rather than small new-oak barrels. Beppe was also a strong believer in the historic practice of blending vineyards to create more complete and balanced wines. This philosophy produced the estate’s celebrated Brunate-Le Coste and Cannubi San Lorenzo-Ravera Barolos. Changes to labeling regulations beginning with the 2010 vintage eventually led to these wines being reorganized and renamed.

Following Beppe Rinaldi’s death in 2018, his daughters Marta and Carlotta continued the family legacy, preserving the estate’s traditional approach. Today, Giuseppe Rinaldi remains synonymous with beautifully perfumed, structured, age-worthy Barolo. These wines are prized for their authenticity, complexity, and unmistakable expression of Nebbiolo and the hills of Barolo.