Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Tre Tine 2016 750ml

Gorgeous, fragrant and structured, this has enticing scents of violet, camphor, orange zest and red berry. The focused palate boasts great energy, doling out strawberry compote, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and white pepper alongside taut, elegant tannins and vibrant acidity. Just fantastic. Drink 2024–2041. (Cellar Selection)

"This is the kind of vintage you dream of," says Carlotta Rinaldi, as she pours her precious Giuseppe Rinaldi 2016 Barolo Tre Tine at the winery. The wine represents a watershed moment for Carlotta, as she remembers walking through the vineyards with her father (who passed away in 2018 at 69 years old) to taste the fruit before harvest. She thought it was time to start picking (on the 28th or 29th of September), and her father readily agreed, deferring to her expertise. This is a classic Rinaldi Barolo, a tribute to a father and his two daughters, with so much balance and fruit equilibrium. Vineyard management was a breeze in 2016, and the grapes meticulously developed nuanced complexity, tannic firmness and freshness to carry the wine over the long haul. Easy punch-downs were measured twice a day and pump-overs were hardly necessary before the cap became soft and supple about 25 days later (the Ravera in this blend of fruit, which also sees Cannubi San Lorenzo and Le Coste, can sometimes go up to 30 days, but this is rare). The wine shows sharp and linear fruit tones that add bright energy to the wine's silky, mid-weight texture. This is one for the cellar, as these beautiful results should only get better with time.

Kirsch, cherry and floral aromas and flavors kick off, augmented by eucalyptus, tar, tobacco and mineral notes. Tightly wound, this is more expressive than austere, with fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity driving the long finish. This should be superb in about 10 years. Best from 2023 through 2045. 600 cases made, 110 cases imported.

The 2016 Barolo Tre Tine represents a sense of classicism in its mid-weight structure and austere energy. Tightly wound and brilliant, the 2016 is naturally going to need at least a few years in bottle to come together, but it is both delicious and immensely promising now. Sweet tobacco, cedar, mint and dried flowers come together with ethereal tannins in this super-classic wine. The blend of sites here - Ravera, Cannubi (San Lorenzo) and Le Coste - works so well.

Comparing 2016 with 2015, Marta Rinaldi says that the 2016s are darker with more tannins and acidity. Ripeness was gradual, and the estate started picking Nebbiolo mid-October - 10 days later than in 2015. The Tre Tine, which brings together Ravera, Cannubi San Lorenzo and Le Coste, is definitely a more substantial wine than its 2015 counterpart but is ultimately still brilliantly light on its feet. It boasts very fine tannins, lots of energy and charmingly nervous acidity. Autumn leaves, forest berries, floral and mint nuances lace the palate and echo decisively on the long finish.