A big, powerful Barolo, the 1996 Brunate-Le Coste hits the palate with a rush of dark red and purplish fruit, violets, lavender and spices, all wrapped around a core of intense, searing tannins. If opened today, the 1996 needs quite a bit of air, but its explosive personality ensures there is no rush; the 1996 will drink well for a number of years, perhaps decades. This is a classic Rinaldi Barolo that is really meant to be drunk at full maturity, once the full range of tertiary notes have developed. In that sense, the 1996 might need another decade or more to be at its very best. This is as old-school as old-school gets. Nov 2015