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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Piedmont | 1 | 92+ (VN) | $2,245.00 | |||||
Vinous (92+)Highly nuanced, expressive aromas of roasted plum, cherry, maple syrup, dried rose, game, smoke, truffle, tar and earth. Superripe but brooding and backward; a distinctly masculine style of Barolo. Finishes with impressive tannic clout and a bit less length than the '96. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 92+ (VN) | $2,135.00 | |||||
Vinous (92+)Highly nuanced, expressive aromas of roasted plum, cherry, maple syrup, dried rose, game, smoke, truffle, tar and earth. Superripe but brooding and backward; a distinctly masculine style of Barolo. Finishes with impressive tannic clout and a bit less length than the '96. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 93+ (WA) | $774.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93+)The 2012 Barolo Falletto is a bit timid to open and needs extra time in the glass (especially when tasted this young). This wine was bottled in March. The wine already shows impressive complexity and depth with drying mineral notes that frame a pretty core of cherry and blackberry fruit. Background notes of light spice and grilled herb complete this pretty picture. What stands out most here, however, is the tight textural fabric of this wine. It is poised for very good aging potential. |
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Piedmont | 12 | 96 (JS) | $795.00 | |||||
James Suckling (96)Impressive fresh leather-clad red cherries with a subtle earthiness in the background. Quite pure. Floral and aromatic. The palate has a very elegant yet powerful core of blueberries and cherries. A smooth release of fruit sweetness into the fresh and vibrant finish. Elegant and classic. More open than normal. Impressive now but better from 2022. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) | $880.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Superb aromas of ripe fruit such as plums and berries with peaches and tar. Very intense. Full body, great depth and density. Incredible richness and power with superb length and persistence. One of the most dense and vertical Falletos I have tasted. Try in 2025. |
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Piedmont | 2 | - | $862.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 2 | 97 (JS) | $672.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)Sweet berries, smoke, cedar and olives on the nose. Floral. Full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and a pretty background and ripe fruit. Flavorful finish. Hints of bitter citrus and smoke, too. Very complex. Powerful for Falletto. Drink after 2026. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) | $280.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Lovely aromas of strawberries, plums, and berries. Bark and mushrooms. Complex and aromatic. Medium to full body with super fine tannins that are supple and gorgeous. Lovely length. So attractive now. Leave it for four or five years. Better after 2027. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 98 (JS) | $852.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Lovely aromas of strawberries, plums, and berries. Bark and mushrooms. Complex and aromatic. Medium to full body with super fine tannins that are supple and gorgeous. Lovely length. So attractive now. Leave it for four or five years. Better after 2027. |
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Piedmont | 5 | - | $1,210.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (VN (AG)) | $2,080.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)A rich, explosive wine, the 2021 Barolo Falletto is heady from the first taste. Spice, menthol, licorice, camphor and dried herbs infuse the palate with captivating depth and nuance. This opens beautifully with time in the glass, showing all the power and regal intensity these wines were once known for. Best of all, the 2021 will drink well with minimal cellaring, as the tannins are already quite polished. Superb. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 97 (JS) | $712.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)This is incredibly powerful and structured with so much tannin backbone and ripe fruit. Aromas of plums and hazelnuts. Full-bodied and chewy. Fabulous finish. Needs three to four years to come together. Great wine. No Falleto was made in 2013. Only Le Rocche. Available in January 2017. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (JS) | $752.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)This is incredibly powerful and structured with so much tannin backbone and ripe fruit. Aromas of plums and hazelnuts. Full-bodied and chewy. Fabulous finish. Needs three to four years to come together. Great wine. No Falleto was made in 2013. Only Le Rocche. Available in January 2017. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 99 (JS) | $897.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Subtle and complex aromas of roses, rose stems and meat. Highly perfumed. Extremely pretty, subtle fruit, yet a solid core of tannins holding it all together. Full-to medium-bodied with a chewy mouth feel and a long and persistent finish. Lots of black cherries and walnuts in the aftertaste. Try in 2024. |
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Piedmont | 1 | - | $3,915.00 | |||||
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) | $360.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Gorgeous aromas of roses that fill the glass along with ripe strawberries, raspberries and forest fruits. Very structured and right with finely toned tannins that are tight, sleek and racy. One for the cellar. Try after 2028. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 98 (JS) | $1,415.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)Gorgeous aromas of roses that fill the glass along with ripe strawberries, raspberries and forest fruits. Very structured and right with finely toned tannins that are tight, sleek and racy. One for the cellar. Try after 2028. |
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Piedmont | 2 | 90 (VN) | $1,955.00 | |||||
Vinous (90)(the first vintage for this wine, from six-year-old vines in Falletto purchased by Giacosa in 2000) Good deep red. Expressive nose melds raspberry, truffle and underbrush; less precise than the 2004 Asili. Then sweet, creamy and seamless in the mouth, with an almost exotic character to the cherry and raspberry fruit. Offers impressive power for a Barolo from young vines, but also lovely mid-palate sweetness and creaminess of texture. Finishes with chewy but ripe and sweet tannins and good length. A distinctly supple style of Barolo, especially from this producer. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (VN) | $3,610.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)I have had mixed experiences with Bruno Giacosa’s 2000 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto, but this bottle, from a case I purchased on release, is absolutely stellar. Intensely sweet, floral aromas soar from the glass. Radiant, open-knit and super-expressive, the Riserva captures all the best qualities of the vintage. It has been a few years since I last tasted the 2000. In that time, the wine appears to have barely budged at all, which will come as welcome news to readers who own it. The 2000 Riserva doesn’t quite reach the heights of the truly epic Giacosa wines of the era, but it comes close, especially on this night. I can only hope that future bottles show this well. |
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Piedmont | 1 | 97 (VN) | $592.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)I have had mixed experiences with Bruno Giacosa’s 2000 Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto, but this bottle, from a case I purchased on release, is absolutely stellar. Intensely sweet, floral aromas soar from the glass. Radiant, open-knit and super-expressive, the Riserva captures all the best qualities of the vintage. It has been a few years since I last tasted the 2000. In that time, the wine appears to have barely budged at all, which will come as welcome news to readers who own it. The 2000 Riserva doesn’t quite reach the heights of the truly epic Giacosa wines of the era, but it comes close, especially on this night. I can only hope that future bottles show this well. |
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