Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Cannubi Ravera 2004

Parker: The 2004 Barolo Cannubi/Ravera is unusually dense and structured in this vintage. The telltale Cannubi bouquet is there, but the fruit reveals the darker side of this site, while the influence of Ravera is felt in the wine’s vibrant, firm tannins. With air, the wine grows, as layers of fruit flow from its rich, harmonious frame. This is another unqualified success from Giuseppe Rinaldi. As always this bottling presents a more feminine style than the Brunate/Le Coste. 93/100

Galloni: Excellent deep red-ruby color. The nose began a bit reduced, then opened spectacularly to show red berries, black licorice, chestnut, brown spices, truffle, mocha and minerals, along with a suggestion of surmaturite Less obviously fleshy than the Brunate but already quite expressive despite its rather primary cherry fruit, with snappy acidity accentuating the wine's inner-mouth floral character. The tannins here are chewy, ripe and wonderfully suave for so-called old-style Barolo. I find this utterly compelling. Cannubi becomes more floral with aging and gains in length, says Rinaldi, while the Brunate takes on a stronger tar-and-chocolate character. 94/100