Italy · Piedmont

Giuseppe Cortese

Giuseppe Cortese is a small family domaine in Treiso, one of Barbaresco's satellite communes, with holdings centered on the Rabajà cru — one of the DOCG's most respected single-vineyard sites. The estate has operated since the 1970s, producing traditional-style Barbaresco with long macerations on Nebbiolo skins and aging in large Slavonian oak botti. Rabajà is located on calcareous Tortonian soils at approximately 300 meters elevation, producing wines with considerable structure, tannin, and the floral-mineral character associated with this hillside. Cortese's Barbaresco Rabajà is the primary auction lot, averaging $74 per bottle across 119 lots, with the Riserva release commanding a 30–40% premium over the base wine in good vintages. The 2010 and 2016 Riservas represent the house at its most age-worthy. Production is small — approximately 7 hectares total — keeping Cortese off the radar of many international collectors while sustaining quiet demand from Barbaresco specialists. Unlike high-profile MGA bottlings from Bruno Giacosa or Gaja, Cortese prices remain accessible, making the estate an undervalued auction target for those seeking Rabajà terroir at moderate prices. The wines require 8–12 years of cellaring to fully express their aromatic complexity, and old vintages from the 1980s show remarkable longevity. The estate's relatively modest international auction presence — despite consistent 93–96-point scores — creates a value gap that knowledgeable collectors can exploit.