The provocative, staunchly traditionalist Giuseppe “Beppe” Rinaldi—the modern face of this historic Barolo property—passed away in 2018, leaving his two daughters, Marta and Carlotta, to carry on producing some of the most perfumed, soulful, long-lasting Barolo in existence. And before there was Beppe, who took over the estate in 1993, there was another Giuseppe (Beppe’s grandfather, for whom he was named), who started the whole shebang way back in the 1920s. 

Well-stored and still quite full of life, this ’70 is a “bucket list” wine experience (especially if it happens to be your birth year). It’s hard to do justice in words to the riot of aromas and flavors this wine throws at you as it takes on air: dried cherry, orange peel, leather, tobacco, potpourri, smoke, tar, rose petals…the list goes on and on. Rather than decanting this, stand the bottle upright several days before serving. Gently extract the cork (a Durand opener may be required) and pour gently, as if decanting the wine into your glass. Drink now!