Bruno Giacosa - Styles, Taste, Best Wines (2024)
The iconic Bruno Giacosa was part of a generation of winemakers that helped put Piemonte on the world wine map. He’s left behind a legacy of rich, age-worthy wines that unveil themselves in complex layers over the years!
How did this legendary winemaker get started? What makes his wines so unique?
Get to know Bruno Giacosa, his winery, and the different styles of wines he has produced over the years - you can even check out Our Favourite Bruno Giacosa Wines.
Want a bottle of this Italian wine in your collection? We know an Easy Way For You To Invest In Giacosa Wines.
Further reading
- Want to explore the world of wine investment? Our comprehensive article on Investing In Wine is all you'll need.
- Also, finding the Perfect Champagne for the right occasion doesn’t have to be hard! We can even tell you the best Champagne Glasses To Serve It.
A Quick Intro To Bruno Giacosa
The wine producer Bruno Giacosa was born in Neive in the Langhe region.
He gave the world some of the best single-vineyard Barbaresco and Barolo (Nebbiolo) wines. This Italian winemaker also produced bottlings of Barbera, Arneis, Dolcetto, and sparkling wine.
The Bruno Giacosa winery is located in the Barbaresco zone of Neive. It is now managed by Bruno’s daughter Bruna Giacosa and winemaker Dante Scaglione.
The Eventful History Of Bruno Giacosa
Bruno and Bruna Giacosa
The legendary winemaker, Bruno Giacosa, left school during World War II to learn the family’s craft from his father.
In the beginning, Bruno only purchased grapes from his established network of vineyard growers. During the 1960s, Giacosa was credited for crafting a great wine that showcased the potential of Barbaresco, alongside producers like Gaja.
In 1964, Giacosa began bottling single vineyard Barbarescos and Barolos from the purchased fruit with the Cru name on the label. The grape varietal used for his 1964 Barbaresco Santo Stefano vintage was from Italo Stupino.
Giacosa bought his first vineyard in 1982 - the Falletto di Serralunga Vineyard (Barolo.) In 1996 he purchased small parcels in the Asili and Rabaja vineyards.
Giacosa refused to bottle a wine that did not meet his high standards (such was the case with the 2006 and 2010 vintages.)
In 1990, oenologist Dante Scaglione started working with Giacosa. Dante left the winery for a short period and joined again in 2011.
After he suffered a stroke in 2006, Bruno Giacosa was no longer able to work full time and his daughter Bruna Giacosa joined him.
He passed away in 2018, and Bruna took over the winery to continue his legacy till today.
Let’s take a look at the fantastic wines that this winery produces.
Also Read: Looking for the perfect Champagne Cocktail or a Mouth-watering Mimosa to serve at brunch? Also try serving a Delicious Sangria as a welcome drink.
Vineyards And Winemaking At Bruno Giacosa
In 2012, Giacosa started the move towards an estate-only strategy for its top wines. They continue to eliminate the use of non-estate-grown single vineyard wines (like those bottled under the Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa label.)
Today, Bruno Giacosa has over 20 hectares of vineyards. They’re Asili and Rabaja in the Barbaresco zone, and La Morra and Serralunga in Barolo.
The Bruno Giacosa estate produces around 400,000 bottles of wine per year. Only the exceptional vintages which pass Giacosa’s standards are released, and the Giacosa Riserva is given a red label.
The philosophy behind Giacosa’s vinification has been described as “updated traditional.”
Although Bruno kept his winemaking techniques secretive in his early years, he later revealed that his methods weren’t different from other producers.
Some of the key elements of his process were:
- Extended maceration on skins for 30-50 days. This long maceration helps increase flavor, color, and tannin structure in the wine.
- 2-3 week fermentation in stainless steel
- 3-4 years aging in French oak 50 hL casks (Botti)
Giacosa’s Iconic Wines
Giacosa’s wines are labeled according to the vineyards where the grapes are grown or purchased - let’s take a look.
A. Azienda Agricola Falletto di Bruno Giacosa
The grapes used for these wines are grown on the estate’s vineyards:
- Barolo DOCG Falletto
- Barolo DOCG Le Rocche del Falletto
- Barbaresco DOCG Asili
- Barolo DOCG Vigna Croera
- Barbera d’Alba DOC Falletto
- Dolcetto d’Alba DOC Falletto
The Barbaresco Asili wine is particularly popular. It has a stunning garnet red colour with notes of dried fruit, sour cherry, delicate orange reflections, and the perfect tannin level for red wine lovers.
B. Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa
Casa Vinicola Bruno Giacosa wines are made from grapes purchased from other vineyards in the region:
- Barbaresco DOCG Santo Stefano di Neive
- Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC
- Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC Valmaggiore
- Dolcetto d’Alba DOC
- Dolcetto d’Alba DOC Barsarini
- Roero Arneis DOCG
- Classic Method “Spumante” Extra Brut
Also read: Looking for a different Italian masterpiece? Take a tour of the Chianti Wine Region and discover the magnificent wines produced there.
The Best Bruno Giacosa Wines To Buy In 2024
Here are our favorite Bruno Giacosa wines (with tasting notes) that you could buy for yourself or as the perfect wine gift for wine lovers.
1. 1989 Bruno Giacosa Collina Rionda, Barolo DOCG, Italy
This gorgeous 1989 vintage has a complex nose of balsamico, caramel, dry cherry, iron, leather, rose, tar, truffle, and mineral.
The perfectly balanced and finely layered palate has a subtle red fruit flavour, bright acidity, strong iron mineral, with a hint of fine tannins.
Price of 1989 Bruno Giacosa Collina Rionda: $4258
2. 1971 Bruno Giacosa 'Albesani di Neive', Barbaresco DOCG, Italy
This wine’s bouquet opens up with anise, cherry, red fruits, leather, mint, and a hint of damp earth.
It has a harmonious palette, medium concentration, dry cherry fruit, bright acidity, and a long mineral finish.
Price of 1971 Bruno Giacosa 'Albesani di Neive': $2769
3. 1978 Bruno Giacosa Bussia di Monforte Riserva Speciale, Barolo DOCG, Italy
Although this wine has evolved tobacco notes, it still displays the sweet, aromatic fruit that opens on the palate.
It has a delightfully refreshing menthol note and an exquisite finish. Even though this is a fully mature wine, it shows no signs of fading.
Price of 1978 Bruno Giacosa Bussia di Monforte Riserva Speciale: $1885
4. 1964 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Speciale DOCG, Piedmont, Italy
This 1964 vintage of the Barolo Riserva Speciale has brawn and steeliness reflective of a wine its age.
It has distinct earthy, rose petal, smoke, iron, and orange peel notes that lead you to a fantastic finish.
Price of 1964 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Speciale DOCG: $1666
5. 1971 Bruno Giacosa Arione di Serralunga d'Alba, Barolo DOCG, Italy
This wine has loads of mature ripe fruit, spice, and floral notes on the nose.
As the wine breaths, it reveals more textures and nuances on the palate. Everything is balanced and leads you to a lingering finish.
Price of 1971 Bruno Giacosa Arione di Serralunga d'Alba: $1535
6. 1971 Bruno Giacosa San Cristoforo, Barbaresco DOCG, Italy
This wine’s nose reveals caramel, red cherry fruit, damp earth, leather, and sweet spice notes.
It has a wonderfully integrated palate, round red fruit flavour, a hint of tannins, and bright acidity. The divine finish leaves you with notes of caramel and leather.
Price of 1971 Bruno Giacosa San Cristoforo: $1507
7. 1985 Falletto di Bruno Giacosa 'Le Rocche di Castiglione Falletto', Barolo DOCG, Italy
The Nebbiolo grapes from the Falletto vineyard used to produce this wine gave it a stunning bouquet and a beautiful display of brown spice, earth, strawberry, and dried roses.
The palate reveals soft textures and rich flavors of spiced crushed cherry, backed by vibrant acidity. The finish starts with wild berry, which fades into mineral and earthy notes.
Price of 1985 Falletto di Bruno Giacosa 'Le Rocche di Castiglione Falletto': $1358
8. 1978 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Pugnane di Castiglione Falletto, Barolo DOCG, Italy
This wine has unusual but lovely notes of herbs, mint, and oyster shells. After some time, the aromas evolve into notes of curing tobacco, coffee grounds, wax crayon, a balsamic tone, and toasting pine nuts.
This wine has soft tannins and bright acidity on the palate, which supports its savory core of fruit flavors.
Price of 1978 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Pugnane di Castiglione Falletto: $797
Discover more:
Struggling to find the right red wine for you? Try out the Fruity Malbec, or perhaps the Smokey Zinfandel.
Why You Should Invest In Bruno Giacosa
The Bruno Giacosa winery produces some of Italy’s best wines with their unfailing pursuit of excellence and intimate knowledge of the terroir.
The wines get frequent praise from famed wine critics James Suckling and Robert Parker. The 2000 Barolo le Rocche del Falletto scored the perfect 100 points from James Suckling on release.
Giacosa’s high standards for the Nebbiolo grape and other varietals, the additional time for maceration, and aging give their wines fantastic aging potential. Some of the Barolo Riservas, or Red Labels, could age 40 years or more in the right storage conditions.
The price appreciation of these wines has also been significant:
- The 1971 Bruno Giacosa Arione di Serralunga d'Alba surged 104% from $749 to $1530 between Mar 2019 and Jan 2021.
- The 1971 Bruno Giacosa San Cristoforo also went up by 71% from $893 to $1530 (Jan 2020 - Jan 2021.)
At a 2015 auction for rare Italian wines, an 11-bottle lot of 1971 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione Falletto was sold for $18,480.
So, which Bruno Giacosa wine will suit your investment needs?
Well, there is the arduous journey of scouring wine websites and auctions for the perfect bottle, and dealing with unsavory counterfeit bottles.
Or, you could enjoy a hassle-free wine investing experience through a wine investment company like Vinovest!
Here’s how:
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Even though Vinovest does all the hard work while you enjoy a glass of Pouilly Fuissé or Pinot Blanc, every bottle you buy is 100% yours.
Experience The Legendary Bruno Giacosa Wine
Giacosa’s wines are as legendary as the man who started it all. Even after the unfortunate loss of the “Genius of Neive,” each new vintage sets standards as high as his prime 1960s.
Whether you want to spoil yourself with an elegant Barbaresco Asili or add an age-worthy Barolo to your portfolio - Bruno Giacosa wines will not disappoint.
Sign up with Vinovest and add this fantastic wine to your collection right away.
