Bruno Giacosa VIP Dinner

Bruno Giacosa’s accomplishments during a career that spanned eight decades are almost too many to list. Giacosa leaves behind a rich, eternal legacy of brilliant wines and unforgettable memories for those lucky enough to have spent time with the Maestro of Nebbiolo. ANTONIO GALLONI

Some of the greatest red wines ever made, by anyone, anywhere. - IAN D'AGATA 

The young Giacosa soon gained renown for what many describe as his golden palate, and he went on to create Barolos and Barbarescos of extraordinary complexity from renowned vineyards, while discovering lesser-known sites that he would later make famous. Today, Giacosa’s acclaimed bottlings read like a wish list for wine connoisseurs, and include some of the most hallowed names in Piedmont, such as Falletto and Le Rocche del Falletto in Barolo, and Asili and Santo Stefano in Barbaresco. His red-label Riserva bottlings – made only in the best years – are among the most sought after wines in the world. KERIN O'KEEFE 

There's not much to said about Bruno Giacosa that hasn't already been written fifty-fold over the years. In my mind he was the true great of seamless, ethereal, weightless Nebbiolo. His wines, more than any other, have a transportative power in the way that only the greatest wines in the world can and they are more than over-represented in my mental list of greatest wines of my life. 

In the years leading up to his passing in 2019, he had lost some of his traditional sources of fruit to owners starting to make their own wines but importantly he retained the jewels of Falletto (his own), Rabaja and Asili. Asili and Falletto to him, his greatest possessions. The other vital piece of the succession plan was daughter, Bruna's, decision to bring back the seminal force behind the winemaking (with Bruno) Dante Scaglione. The sum total of all this are wines that are continuing to honour the legacy. These latest releases are truly fabulous and while hype for this or that traditional producer may take hold periodically, no one can match the purity of a Giacosa wine. 

Below I have published an excerpt from an article Kerrin O'Keefe wrote a few years ago. I don't usually like to take "slabs of notes" from a third party source but I think she describes both Giacosa's importance and the his significant vineyards with clarity and brevity so...:

Giacosa was one of the first Italian winemakers to fully understand the importance of Langhe’s vineyards and, in 1967, he began bottling the famous hillside vineyard yields separately. Thanks to decades of experience as one of Langhe’s foremost grape buyers and winemakers, Giacosa decided years ahead of time which properties hewanted to own. The main object of his desire? Falletto. Located in the venerable village of Serralunga, perhaps the most prestigious of all the Barolo villages, Falletto has perfect southwest exposure that allows the grapes to mature slowly but fully, while its calcareous soil adds complexity and structure. ‘I’d been buying grapes from Falletto since 1967 and had always wanted to buy it,’ says Giacosa. ‘In 1982, I finally realised my dream.’ In 1996, he went on to acquire a parcel of land on the top of the notable Asili hillside in Barbaresco. Today he admits that this is the vineyard closest to his heart. ‘No other vineyard in Langhe yields a bouquet as elegant, or possesses such finesse and balance as Asili,’ says the veteran, who attributes the vineyard’s performance to its sandy, almost silty soil, full southern exposure and high altitude.

Perhaps his greatest jewel was what became his home vineyard, Falletto in Serralunga. Alongside Vigna Rionda and Francia, it is possibly the greatest Barolo site in the region. His bottlings from here are remarkable. A couple of things to note about what's offered here today. You'll notice two Barolo 'classico' listed. They are both from the Falletto vineyard. In great years (like the 2021s) the Falletto comes only from the top sections of the vineyard. In those years, the Barolo labelled without 'Falletto' comes from the lower part of the site. In years where there is no Falletto, the Barolo is from across the site. A little confusing but the important take away is that the vineyard, Falletto, is common to both bottlings and, therefore, very special Barolo. 

???I have listed the wines and pricing below. Numbers are miniscule so if you would like anything please let me know asap as they will not last. Rest assured you are receiving this email because you have purchased Giacosa's wine in the past. No-one else will receive this offer.

Cheers

Michael