The Rabajà is the crowning jewel of the Giuseppe Cortese estate and one of the most legendary vineyard designations (MGA) in the entire Barbaresco appellation. Known for its unique microclimate and calcareous-clay soils, the Rabajà hill produces wines of extraordinary verticality, power, and mineral depth. The 2021 vintage is being hailed by critics as a classic, "drop-dead gorgeous" year for the region. Cortese’s 2021 Rabajà is youthfully austere but immensely promising, showing the darker, more "virile" side of Nebbiolo. It offers an intricate bouquet of wild raspberries, crushed roses, and violets, layered with complex notes of licorice, menthol, and flinty minerals. With its structured tannins and vibrant acidity, this bottle is built for a very long life in the cellar. Kerin O'Keefe 96/100 "Impressive... full-bodied and savory with a salty mineral finish." Vinous (A. Galloni) 95/100 "Classic Rabajà... complex, dynamic, and youthfully austere." Robert Parker 95/100 "Impressive length and equilibrium; a compact red with a core of fruit." James Suckling 94/100 "Charming fruit-and-flower aromas with a broad, velvety palate." Wine Spectator 95/100 "Balsamic aromas matched to a core of ripe cherry and earth."