Bruno Giacosa
Bruno Giacosa is an internationally respected winemaker with some of the most impressive Barolo and Barbaresco single-vineyard wines. He is the 3rd generation of this family business from their cellars in Nieve in the Langhe. He also sources grapes from local growers that whom the family has long-established relations. The wines have a fantastic bouquet and a full-bodied palate but also real elegance for the region.
Often credited as one of the producers to put Barbaresco on the map, Bruno Giacosa joined the family’s winemaking business at the age of 15, buying what he felt were the best grapes from his network of growers. He acquired the Falleto vineyard in Barolo (relatively) recently in 1982, and selected plots in Barbaresco in 1996. In 1964, Giacosa began single-vineyard bottlings of Barolo and Barbaresco with the cru names indicated on the labels with the very first being from the San Stefano vineyard – reportedly Giacosa’s single favourite wine of his entire career. Giacosa's daughter Bruna has been in charge since 2006.
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James Suckling (99)
Incredible aromas of violets, roses and blue fruits. So perfumed. Never smelled a wine like this before. Full body, perfectly integrated tannins and bright, vivid acidity. Extremely long and endless. A seamless and great one. An evocative wine that makes you think. Needs three to five years of bottle age on release. Unique red. Available in 2019.Inc. GSTSG$2,880.24 -
(1x300cl) 2016Inc. GSTSG$2,952.03 -
Inc. GSTSG$3,626.89 -
Inc. GSTSG$3,376.19 -
(6x75cl) 2020Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Asili was aged for 20 months in barrel followed by two years in bottle. In this vintage (as in 2021), the weather conditions and the maturity of the grapes were evident in the vineyard, indicating that they would produce the red label Riserva bottling this year. (In other vintages, that decision has been made in the cellar.) In the glass, the wine displays a medium red transparent hue and offers fantastic layers of incense, Asian spices, fresh currants, and raspberries. The palate is elegant and refined, with a long, graceful feel. It’s very long on the palate, with a balanced, fruity feel, and its perfume lasts on the finish, featuring notes of apricot perfume. It's gorgeous already, but I would stash this away and check back in a few years. It’s deceptively approachable now but has the structure to age over the coming decades. This vintage reminds Bruna Giacosa of 2000, a vintage marked with similar elegance.Inc. GSTSG$4,310.30 -
(6x75cl) 2001Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2001 Barbaresco Rabajà is another wine I tasted many times before it was released. It is, in my view, one of the greatest wines Bruno Giacosa has ever made. That said, there is some variation in the 2001 that is probably attributable to different suppliers of cork. Although this bottle is not as thrilling as others have been, there is still plenty of the darkness, depth and structure that are such Rabajà signatures. Firm tannins ensure the 2001 will drink well for many years and decades to come. I often enjoy Barolo and Barbaresco on the younger side, but the 2001 Rabajà is a bottle I would prefer to continue to cellar for at least another few years. In the mid 2000s, Giacosa made several fabulous Barbarescos from a parcel he labeled as being in Rabajà, but that was later placed within Asili when the Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (the approximate Italian equivalent of the French ‘cru’) were drawn up a few years ago.Inc. GSTSG$7,183.58 -
(6x75cl) 2004Vinous (98)
The 2004 Barbaresco Rabajà is a total head-turner. In this tasting, its only competition is the Asili Red Label. Even so, the Rabajà is an absolutely captivating, vivid wine from the first taste. Vertical and imposing in its sense of structure, with explosive energy to back things up, the Rabajà simply has it all. Scents of lavender, exotic spices and dark fruit add to the wine's total allure and seductive power.Inc. GSTSG$3,907.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2014 Barbaresco Rabajà is gorgeous. Powerful and explosive, the 2014 possesses stunning depth and intensity in all of its dimensions. Spice, menthol and orange peel give the 2014 a level of exoticism that is compelling, while beams of searing tannin announce the presence and pedigree of Rabajà. Intense, tannic and yet also very precise, with soaring structure and terrific persistence, the 2014 Rabajà is the best wine the Bruno Giacosa estate has made in many years.Inc. GSTSG$1,648.54 -
(6x75cl) 2015James Suckling (99)
The purity of fruit to this is incredible with cherry, plum and white truffle. Hints of ash and stone. Roses. Full body, superb texture of super fine tannins and incredible length. The harmony is so mesmorizing. Elegance and length. Bright energy. Tiny production. Try in 2022 when it comes together.Inc. GSTSG$1,604.94 -
Vinous (93)
The 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà is very nicely done. It offers up an enticing mélange of dark-fleshed fruit, spice, licorice, sage, tobacco and menthol, all in a relatively mid-weight, light style for this site. The 2016 won't make Giacosa fans forget about the 2001 or 2004, but it is certainly very nicely balanced. Overall, the 2016 is a bit light for Rabajà, but attractive if taken on its own terms. It should drink well for another decade or so.Inc. GSTSG$1,604.94 -
(1x75cl) 2017Inc. GSTSG$319.99 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,495.94 -
(6x75cl) 2020James Suckling (100)
Wow. The purity of fruit and sophistication is out of this world. Peaches, strawberries, bright plums and berries. Full-bodied yet compacted. The tannin structure is there but you don’t see it. It’s tight and resolved with perfect balance and length. A masterpiece. So emotional to taste this. Made from half a hectare. 3,500 bottles made. January 2024 release.Inc. GSTSG$1,928.65 -
Inc. GSTSG$2,839.34 -
(1x75cl) 1964Inc. GSTSG$3,580.54 -
Wine Advocate (87)
The 2008 Barbaresco Santo Stefano has the same color the 1987 had when it was 20 years old, which is to say almost rose colored. I don’t think the 2008 will make its 20th birthday, however. This is a light, translucent, fleeting wine with very little fruit and body. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016.Inc. GSTSG$1,488.33 -
James Suckling (94)
A wine with silky tannins and pretty bright fruit of strawberries and sliced plums and hints of flowers. Full body, fine tannins and a wonderful clarity. Lovely length of fruit. This is the last vintage of Santo Stefano for Giacosa after many decades of success. Needs at least four or five years to soften.Inc. GSTSG$1,095.91 -
Vinous (89)
Now, after many years of trying and countless poor/flawed bottles, I can finally say I have had what is likely a representative bottle of Giacosa’s 1988 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano. Lithe and ethereal on the palate, the 1988 is now fully mature, but also has just enough freshness to last for another few years if stored in a perfect cellar. Scents of dried cherry, menthol, worn-in leather, molasses and tobacco shape the lilting finish. Every bottle of the 1988 I have ever tasted in the US has been flawed. This bottle, from a European cellar, is at least sound. The 1988 is holding onto the last vestiges of life. It is also a rare miss from Bruno Giacosa in a decade that yielded so many truly memorable wines.Inc. GSTSG$12,294.55 -
Vinous (98)
Of the wines of the 1980s, the 1989 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano vies for the 1982 as the best wine of a decade that saw Bruno Giacosa make a dizzying array of stunning Barolos and Barbarescos. Still explosive and heady, the 1989 captures the best of Santo Stefano vineyard as interpreted by Bruno Giacosa. There’s not much more to say. Heady Nebbiolo aromatics and dense fruit infuse this exotic, deeply satisfying Barbaresco from Bruno Giacosa. The 1989 was the first young Giacosa Riserva I bought on release. The price was $55 a bottle, which was a fortune for me at the time. Many things have changed since then. But the wine? Well, it is as monumental as ever.Inc. GSTSG$1,873.97 -
Inc. GSTSG$374.31 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,294.29 -
Inc. GSTSG$262.22 -
Inc. GSTSG$826.68
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The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.Inc. GSTSG$288.38 -
The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.Inc. GSTSG$925.87 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,819.65 -
Inc. GSTSG$1,906.85 -
Inc. GSTSG$3,051.89 -
Inc. GSTSG$5,935.53 -
(6x75cl) 1988Inc. GSTSG$6,317.03
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James Suckling (99)
Incredible aromas of violets, roses and blue fruits. So perfumed. Never smelled a wine like this before. Full body, perfectly integrated tannins and bright, vivid acidity. Extremely long and endless. A seamless and great one. An evocative wine that makes you think. Needs three to five years of bottle age on release. Unique red. Available in 2019.In BondSG$2,585.00 -
(1x300cl) 2016In BondSG$2,670.00
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In BondSG$3,270.00
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In BondSG$3,040.00
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(6x75cl) 2020
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Asili was aged for 20 months in barrel followed by two years in bottle. In this vintage (as in 2021), the weather conditions and the maturity of the grapes were evident in the vineyard, indicating that they would produce the red label Riserva bottling this year. (In other vintages, that decision has been made in the cellar.) In the glass, the wine displays a medium red transparent hue and offers fantastic layers of incense, Asian spices, fresh currants, and raspberries. The palate is elegant and refined, with a long, graceful feel. It’s very long on the palate, with a balanced, fruity feel, and its perfume lasts on the finish, featuring notes of apricot perfume. It's gorgeous already, but I would stash this away and check back in a few years. It’s deceptively approachable now but has the structure to age over the coming decades. This vintage reminds Bruna Giacosa of 2000, a vintage marked with similar elegance.In BondSG$3,895.00 -
(6x75cl) 2001
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2001 Barbaresco Rabajà is another wine I tasted many times before it was released. It is, in my view, one of the greatest wines Bruno Giacosa has ever made. That said, there is some variation in the 2001 that is probably attributable to different suppliers of cork. Although this bottle is not as thrilling as others have been, there is still plenty of the darkness, depth and structure that are such Rabajà signatures. Firm tannins ensure the 2001 will drink well for many years and decades to come. I often enjoy Barolo and Barbaresco on the younger side, but the 2001 Rabajà is a bottle I would prefer to continue to cellar for at least another few years. In the mid 2000s, Giacosa made several fabulous Barbarescos from a parcel he labeled as being in Rabajà, but that was later placed within Asili when the Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (the approximate Italian equivalent of the French ‘cru’) were drawn up a few years ago.In BondSG$6,535.00 -
(6x75cl) 2004
Vinous (98)
The 2004 Barbaresco Rabajà is a total head-turner. In this tasting, its only competition is the Asili Red Label. Even so, the Rabajà is an absolutely captivating, vivid wine from the first taste. Vertical and imposing in its sense of structure, with explosive energy to back things up, the Rabajà simply has it all. Scents of lavender, exotic spices and dark fruit add to the wine's total allure and seductive power.In BondSG$3,525.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2014 Barbaresco Rabajà is gorgeous. Powerful and explosive, the 2014 possesses stunning depth and intensity in all of its dimensions. Spice, menthol and orange peel give the 2014 a level of exoticism that is compelling, while beams of searing tannin announce the presence and pedigree of Rabajà. Intense, tannic and yet also very precise, with soaring structure and terrific persistence, the 2014 Rabajà is the best wine the Bruno Giacosa estate has made in many years.In BondSG$1,455.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015
James Suckling (99)
The purity of fruit to this is incredible with cherry, plum and white truffle. Hints of ash and stone. Roses. Full body, superb texture of super fine tannins and incredible length. The harmony is so mesmorizing. Elegance and length. Bright energy. Tiny production. Try in 2022 when it comes together.In BondSG$1,415.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà is very nicely done. It offers up an enticing mélange of dark-fleshed fruit, spice, licorice, sage, tobacco and menthol, all in a relatively mid-weight, light style for this site. The 2016 won't make Giacosa fans forget about the 2001 or 2004, but it is certainly very nicely balanced. Overall, the 2016 is a bit light for Rabajà, but attractive if taken on its own terms. It should drink well for another decade or so.In BondSG$1,415.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017In BondSG$284.00
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In BondSG$1,315.00
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(6x75cl) 2020
James Suckling (100)
Wow. The purity of fruit and sophistication is out of this world. Peaches, strawberries, bright plums and berries. Full-bodied yet compacted. The tannin structure is there but you don’t see it. It’s tight and resolved with perfect balance and length. A masterpiece. So emotional to taste this. Made from half a hectare. 3,500 bottles made. January 2024 release.In BondSG$1,710.00 -
In BondSG$2,595.00
-
(1x75cl) 1964In BondSG$3,275.00
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Wine Advocate (87)
The 2008 Barbaresco Santo Stefano has the same color the 1987 had when it was 20 years old, which is to say almost rose colored. I don’t think the 2008 will make its 20th birthday, however. This is a light, translucent, fleeting wine with very little fruit and body. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016.In BondSG$1,310.00 -
James Suckling (94)
A wine with silky tannins and pretty bright fruit of strawberries and sliced plums and hints of flowers. Full body, fine tannins and a wonderful clarity. Lovely length of fruit. This is the last vintage of Santo Stefano for Giacosa after many decades of success. Needs at least four or five years to soften.In BondSG$948.00 -
Vinous (89)
Now, after many years of trying and countless poor/flawed bottles, I can finally say I have had what is likely a representative bottle of Giacosa’s 1988 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano. Lithe and ethereal on the palate, the 1988 is now fully mature, but also has just enough freshness to last for another few years if stored in a perfect cellar. Scents of dried cherry, menthol, worn-in leather, molasses and tobacco shape the lilting finish. Every bottle of the 1988 I have ever tasted in the US has been flawed. This bottle, from a European cellar, is at least sound. The 1988 is holding onto the last vestiges of life. It is also a rare miss from Bruno Giacosa in a decade that yielded so many truly memorable wines.In BondSG$11,220.00 -
Vinous (98)
Of the wines of the 1980s, the 1989 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano vies for the 1982 as the best wine of a decade that saw Bruno Giacosa make a dizzying array of stunning Barolos and Barbarescos. Still explosive and heady, the 1989 captures the best of Santo Stefano vineyard as interpreted by Bruno Giacosa. There’s not much more to say. Heady Nebbiolo aromatics and dense fruit infuse this exotic, deeply satisfying Barbaresco from Bruno Giacosa. The 1989 was the first young Giacosa Riserva I bought on release. The price was $55 a bottle, which was a fortune for me at the time. Many things have changed since then. But the wine? Well, it is as monumental as ever.In BondSG$1,710.00 -
In BondSG$284.00
-
In BondSG$1,130.00
-
In BondSG$231.00
-
In BondSG$701.00
-
The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.In BondSG$255.00 -
The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.In BondSG$792.00 -
In BondSG$1,610.00
-
In BondSG$1,690.00
-
In BondSG$2,790.00
-
In BondSG$5,390.00
-
(6x75cl) 1988In BondSG$5,740.00
