99 points - "The 2016 Rabajà Riserva is drop-dead gorgeous, starting with its luminous ruby color and beautiful aromas of forest berry, rose, iris, menthol and star anise. Full-bodied, delicious and focused, the elegantly structured palate features juicy black cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and saline mineral notes before a minty close. While expressive and savory, it also shows the restraint of the best world-class wines and is beautifully balanced, with polished tannins and fresh acidity. What a stunner." - Kerrin O’Keefe (Wine Enthusiast)

97 points, "The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is stellar. Just starting to open aromatically, the 2016 is superb in this tasting. Sweet macerated cherry, spice, new leather, tobacco and dried herbs all grace the 2016 with notable aromatic complexity. As always, the Riserva is an ethereal, engaging wine with less immediacy and mid-palate than the other Barbarescos here, but in exchange tons of nuance. This is the best showing yet for the 2016, a wine that satisfies both the hedonistic and intellectual senses." - Antonio Galloni (Vinous)

96 points, "Black cherry, tea leaf, aniseed, lavender, sage, and plenty of floral top notes, cedar and damp earth. It’s medium-bodied, cherry and strawberry, distinctly stony, so fresh and pure, with a juicy succulence of fruit and autumnal character. Tannin is ripe and chalky, and runs the length of the wine, so ferrous, but with small berried red fruit and cherry intensity of flavour. The finish is grainy and offers impeccable length and precision. It’s a vibrant and distinctly ‘mineral’ expression of Barbaresco, and even at seven years of age, feels almost painfully youthful. Unreal." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

95 points, "The Giuseppe Cortese 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a late release and one I am sure this winery is quite happy to see go to market given the hype surrounding this excellent vintage. There is a very pretty smoothness here, both in terms of the aromatic delivery and the mouthfeel, which shows how nicely Nebbiolo can reach balance. The bouquet is lithe and delicate with wild berry, crushed rose petal, white licorice and campfire ash. Some 6,000 bottles were made. Great job." - Monica Larner (The Wine Advocate)

Grape variety:
100% Nebbiolo

Surface area:
In Barbaresco ,1 hectare in the “Rabajà” zone, with south, south-westerly exposure

Altitude:
235 / 315 meters a.s.l.

Soil:
Limestone and clay soil rich in minerals and stratified with layers of “tufo”.

Age of vineyard:
Around 70 years. Density of planting system: guyot-4,000 vines per hectare.

Vinification: around 35 days of fermentation in stainless steel and old cement tanks.

Ageing:
40 months in Slavonian oak barrels ranging in size of 17 to 25 hectolitres and in age of 30/32 years. Minimum 3 years of maturing in the bottle before being released for sale.