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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Vinous (96)
The 2014 Barbaresco Rabajà is gorgeous. Powerful and explosive, the 2014 possesses stunning depth and intensity in all of its dimensions. Spice, menthol and orange peel give the 2014 a level of exoticism that is compelling, while beams of searing tannin announce the presence and pedigree of Rabajà. Intense, tannic and yet also very precise, with soaring structure and terrific persistence, the 2014 Rabajà is the best wine the Bruno Giacosa estate has made in many years.Inc. VAT£1,036.78 -
(6x75cl) 2015James Suckling (99)
The purity of fruit to this is incredible with cherry, plum and white truffle. Hints of ash and stone. Roses. Full body, superb texture of super fine tannins and incredible length. The harmony is so mesmorizing. Elegance and length. Bright energy. Tiny production. Try in 2022 when it comes together.Inc. VAT£1,009.18 -
Vinous (93)
The 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà is very nicely done. It offers up an enticing mélange of dark-fleshed fruit, spice, licorice, sage, tobacco and menthol, all in a relatively mid-weight, light style for this site. The 2016 won't make Giacosa fans forget about the 2001 or 2004, but it is certainly very nicely balanced. Overall, the 2016 is a bit light for Rabajà, but attractive if taken on its own terms. It should drink well for another decade or so.Inc. VAT£1,007.98 -
(1x75cl) 2017Inc. VAT£204.40 -
Inc. VAT£937.18 -
(6x75cl) 2020James Suckling (100)
Wow. The purity of fruit and sophistication is out of this world. Peaches, strawberries, bright plums and berries. Full-bodied yet compacted. The tannin structure is there but you don’t see it. It’s tight and resolved with perfect balance and length. A masterpiece. So emotional to taste this. Made from half a hectare. 3,500 bottles made. January 2024 release.Inc. VAT£1,232.00 -
Inc. VAT£1,809.60 -
(1x75cl) 1964Inc. VAT£2,282.62 -
Wine Advocate (87)
The 2008 Barbaresco Santo Stefano has the same color the 1987 had when it was 20 years old, which is to say almost rose colored. I don’t think the 2008 will make its 20th birthday, however. This is a light, translucent, fleeting wine with very little fruit and body. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016.Inc. VAT£942.35 -
Vinous (89)
Now, after many years of trying and countless poor/flawed bottles, I can finally say I have had what is likely a representative bottle of Giacosa’s 1988 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano. Lithe and ethereal on the palate, the 1988 is now fully mature, but also has just enough freshness to last for another few years if stored in a perfect cellar. Scents of dried cherry, menthol, worn-in leather, molasses and tobacco shape the lilting finish. Every bottle of the 1988 I have ever tasted in the US has been flawed. This bottle, from a European cellar, is at least sound. The 1988 is holding onto the last vestiges of life. It is also a rare miss from Bruno Giacosa in a decade that yielded so many truly memorable wines.Inc. VAT£7,852.40 -
Vinous (98)
Of the wines of the 1980s, the 1989 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano vies for the 1982 as the best wine of a decade that saw Bruno Giacosa make a dizzying array of stunning Barolos and Barbarescos. Still explosive and heady, the 1989 captures the best of Santo Stefano vineyard as interpreted by Bruno Giacosa. There’s not much more to say. Heady Nebbiolo aromatics and dense fruit infuse this exotic, deeply satisfying Barbaresco from Bruno Giacosa. The 1989 was the first young Giacosa Riserva I bought on release. The price was $55 a bottle, which was a fortune for me at the time. Many things have changed since then. But the wine? Well, it is as monumental as ever.Inc. VAT£1,194.26 -
Inc. VAT£809.98 -
Inc. VAT£164.80 -
Inc. VAT£512.38
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The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.Inc. VAT£181.60 -
The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.Inc. VAT£575.98 -
Inc. VAT£1,145.60 -
Inc. VAT£1,202.00 -
Inc. VAT£1,949.33 -
Inc. VAT£3,781.55 -
(6x75cl) 1988Inc. VAT£3,963.16 -
(1x75cl) 1995Vinous (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.Inc. VAT£356.66 -
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.Inc. VAT£2,037.95 -
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.Inc. VAT£1,938.35 -
(3x150cl) 2004Vinous (97)
Giacosa's 2004 Barolo Falletto is a rock star. The truth is that, if tasted alone, the white label Falletto could easily be mistaken for the Red Label Riserva. It is every bit that compelling. Intensely perfumed yet also towering in stature, the 2004 is simply magnificent. The main difference between the white label and red label is finesse in the tannin, which is a bit less polished here. But that is only because there is a comparison. Taken on its own, the Falletto is one of the very finest wines of the vintage. Elegance meets power. With a little advance aeration, the 2004 can be enjoyed young, but it is frankly best left alone for another few years, especially for readers who only own a few bottles. This is yet another 2004 that has really blossomed in bottle.Inc. VAT£2,086.84 -
(1x300cl) 2007Wine Spectator (96)
An elegant, fruity style, boasting raspberry, cherry and floral aromas and flavors. This is pure and delicate for the commune, with fine intensity, finesse and depth. The tannins mesh beautifully with the wine's silky texture, ending with an excellent finish. Just surprisingly open and approachable. Best from 2014 through 2032. 1,500 cases made. -BSInc. VAT£1,177.58 -
(3x150cl) 2012Wine 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.Inc. VAT£908.72 -
(3x150cl) 2014James 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.Inc. VAT£1,103.15 -
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.Inc. VAT£737.15 -
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.Inc. VAT£817.18
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Vinous (96)
The 2014 Barbaresco Rabajà is gorgeous. Powerful and explosive, the 2014 possesses stunning depth and intensity in all of its dimensions. Spice, menthol and orange peel give the 2014 a level of exoticism that is compelling, while beams of searing tannin announce the presence and pedigree of Rabajà. Intense, tannic and yet also very precise, with soaring structure and terrific persistence, the 2014 Rabajà is the best wine the Bruno Giacosa estate has made in many years.In Bond£844.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015
James Suckling (99)
The purity of fruit to this is incredible with cherry, plum and white truffle. Hints of ash and stone. Roses. Full body, superb texture of super fine tannins and incredible length. The harmony is so mesmorizing. Elegance and length. Bright energy. Tiny production. Try in 2022 when it comes together.In Bond£821.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2016 Barbaresco Rabajà is very nicely done. It offers up an enticing mélange of dark-fleshed fruit, spice, licorice, sage, tobacco and menthol, all in a relatively mid-weight, light style for this site. The 2016 won't make Giacosa fans forget about the 2001 or 2004, but it is certainly very nicely balanced. Overall, the 2016 is a bit light for Rabajà, but attractive if taken on its own terms. It should drink well for another decade or so.In Bond£820.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017In Bond£167.00
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In Bond£761.00
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(6x75cl) 2020
James Suckling (100)
Wow. The purity of fruit and sophistication is out of this world. Peaches, strawberries, bright plums and berries. Full-bodied yet compacted. The tannin structure is there but you don’t see it. It’s tight and resolved with perfect balance and length. A masterpiece. So emotional to taste this. Made from half a hectare. 3,500 bottles made. January 2024 release.In Bond£1,006.00 -
Inc. VAT£1,809.60
-
(1x75cl) 1964In Bond£1,898.97
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Wine Advocate (87)
The 2008 Barbaresco Santo Stefano has the same color the 1987 had when it was 20 years old, which is to say almost rose colored. I don’t think the 2008 will make its 20th birthday, however. This is a light, translucent, fleeting wine with very little fruit and body. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016.In Bond£766.00 -
Vinous (89)
Now, after many years of trying and countless poor/flawed bottles, I can finally say I have had what is likely a representative bottle of Giacosa’s 1988 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano. Lithe and ethereal on the palate, the 1988 is now fully mature, but also has just enough freshness to last for another few years if stored in a perfect cellar. Scents of dried cherry, menthol, worn-in leather, molasses and tobacco shape the lilting finish. Every bottle of the 1988 I have ever tasted in the US has been flawed. This bottle, from a European cellar, is at least sound. The 1988 is holding onto the last vestiges of life. It is also a rare miss from Bruno Giacosa in a decade that yielded so many truly memorable wines.In Bond£6,523.00 -
Vinous (98)
Of the wines of the 1980s, the 1989 Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano vies for the 1982 as the best wine of a decade that saw Bruno Giacosa make a dizzying array of stunning Barolos and Barbarescos. Still explosive and heady, the 1989 captures the best of Santo Stefano vineyard as interpreted by Bruno Giacosa. There’s not much more to say. Heady Nebbiolo aromatics and dense fruit infuse this exotic, deeply satisfying Barbaresco from Bruno Giacosa. The 1989 was the first young Giacosa Riserva I bought on release. The price was $55 a bottle, which was a fortune for me at the time. Many things have changed since then. But the wine? Well, it is as monumental as ever.In Bond£992.00 -
In Bond£655.00
-
In Bond£134.00
-
In Bond£407.00
-
The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.In Bond£148.00 -
The Wine Independent (98)
The 2018 Bruno Giacosa Barolo is very rich and hedonistic, with ripe strawberries and rose hip and notes of incense, lilies and violets. It is a lovely nose, persistent, intense and enticing and on the palate it is like falling into a soft velvety bed of rose petals. It already has such beautiful harmony and poise. It has a lush, sensual texture of crushed velvet, and is full-bodied without feeling heavy. There are plenty of dense, savory tannins extending the very long finish, creating a combination of seductive charm and power. This is something special, a great achievement in this vintage. Wait 2-3 years at least but I would not want to miss that young fragrance.In Bond£460.00 -
In Bond£934.00
-
In Bond£981.00
-
In Bond£1,621.00
-
In Bond£3,132.00
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(6x75cl) 1988In Bond£3,286.60
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(1x75cl) 1995
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.In Bond£294.00 -
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.In Bond£1,679.00 -
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.Inc. VAT£1,915.20 -
(3x150cl) 2004
Vinous (97)
Giacosa's 2004 Barolo Falletto is a rock star. The truth is that, if tasted alone, the white label Falletto could easily be mistaken for the Red Label Riserva. It is every bit that compelling. Intensely perfumed yet also towering in stature, the 2004 is simply magnificent. The main difference between the white label and red label is finesse in the tannin, which is a bit less polished here. But that is only because there is a comparison. Taken on its own, the Falletto is one of the very finest wines of the vintage. Elegance meets power. With a little advance aeration, the 2004 can be enjoyed young, but it is frankly best left alone for another few years, especially for readers who only own a few bottles. This is yet another 2004 that has really blossomed in bottle.In Bond£1,723.00 -
(1x300cl) 2007
Wine Spectator (96)
An elegant, fruity style, boasting raspberry, cherry and floral aromas and flavors. This is pure and delicate for the commune, with fine intensity, finesse and depth. The tannins mesh beautifully with the wine's silky texture, ending with an excellent finish. Just surprisingly open and approachable. Best from 2014 through 2032. 1,500 cases made. -BSIn Bond£968.00 -
(3x150cl) 2012
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.In Bond£738.00 -
(3x150cl) 2014
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.In Bond£900.00 -
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.In Bond£595.00 -
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.In Bond£661.00
