Giuseppe Rinaldi
Overview
Giuseppe Rinaldi (Beppe Rinaldi, now run by daughters Marta and Carlotta) is one of the most iconic and uncompromising traditional Barolo estates, based in the town of Barolo. Rinaldi Barolo is legendary for its complex, long-lived style; the estate also produces Freisa, which VFTC #117 covers in the 2016 and 2019 vintages. Gilman notes that the US price for the Freisa is “rather absurd for the intrinsic quality of the wine” but acknowledges the 2016 Freisa is “drinking very well at nine years of age.”
Appellations
- Barolo — multiple crus
- Langhe Freisa (Barolo township)
- Barbera d’Alba
Key Wines
- Freisa — old school, sometimes slightly volatile; 2019 (90+, 2027–2045); 2016 (90, 2025–2040). Note: Gilman calls the US pricing “rather absurd for the intrinsic quality.”
Style Notes
Rinaldi is among the most traditional estates in Barolo — long macerations, large Slavonian oak casks, bottlings that blur appellation lines in the traditional way. The Freisa is a dense, perfumed wine from very old Freisa vines in the Barolo commune.
Gilman Scores (VFTC #117, May-June 2025)
| Wine | Vintage | Score | Drink |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freisa | 2019 | 90+ | 2027–2045 |
| Freisa | 2016 | 90 | 2025–2040 |
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
- VFTC #117 (John Gilman, May-June 2025), pages 102–129 (Italian section)