Pietro Rinaldi 2017 Barbaresco San Cristoforo DOCG Piedmont Italy
93 Points — WineAlign
Pietro Rinaldi 2017 Barbaresco San Cristoforo DOCG is a refined, traditionally styled Nebbiolo from the celebrated hills of Neive in Piedmont, Italy, and a compelling expression of one of Barbaresco's distinctive vineyard sites.
Produced from 100% Nebbiolo, San Cristoforo comes from a prized vineyard area in the commune of Neive. Pietro Rinaldi identifies San Cristoforo as a special cru, with the vines occupying the elevated Piedmontese hilltops locally known as “Bricchi.” The vineyard enjoys predominantly southeast exposure, helping Nebbiolo achieve the slow, complete maturation essential to great Barbaresco.
The 2017 combines the aromatic elegance associated with Nebbiolo with freshness, structure and beautifully integrated tannins. Now with meaningful bottle age, it offers an opportunity to experience mature Barbaresco while retaining the structure for further development.
Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2017 Pietro Rinaldi San Cristoforo Barbaresco displays an intense ruby-red color moving toward classic garnet reflections.
The bouquet is elegant and distinctly Nebbiolo, opening with rose and violet, followed by red berries, dried red fruit, balsamic nuances and underlying mineral character.
On the palate, freshness is a defining quality. The tannins are refined and velvety, supporting an elegant structure and persistent fruit. With air, savory and tertiary characteristics begin to complement the floral and red-fruited character, leading to a warm, enveloping and persistent finish.
An independent WineAlign review awarded the 2017 93 points, noting its fragrant, delicate Nebbiolo character along with impressive density and length.
93 Points — WineAlign
The 2017 was praised for its classic Nebbiolo character, savory dried-red-fruit profile, firm structure, density and length, with the reviewer describing it as a fine, classic example of Barbaresco. The review suggested a drinking window of 2022–2030 when tasted in 2020.
San Cristoforo — A Barbaresco Cru in Neive
The personality of this wine begins with San Cristoforo in Neive, one of the communes within the Barbaresco DOCG.
According to Pietro Rinaldi, San Cristoforo identifies a particularly prized cru. The vineyard's southeast exposure and hilltop position provide the conditions needed for Nebbiolo to develop its combination of perfume, acidity, tannin and longevity.
This site-specific character is an important reason I would feature “San Cristoforo” prominently throughout the MyWinePlus listing rather than treating this simply as another Barbaresco.
Traditional Barbaresco Winemaking
Pietro Rinaldi follows a traditional approach that allows Nebbiolo and the vineyard to remain at the center of the wine.
Following pressing, fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks for approximately 10–12 days, followed by malolactic fermentation.
The wine then spends approximately 16–18 months in large 25-hectoliter Slavonian oak barrels. The use of large-format oak rather than an oak-dominant élevage helps preserve Nebbiolo's floral perfume, freshness and vineyard character.
About Pietro Rinaldi
Pietro Rinaldi is a family wine estate based in Alba, Piedmont. The estate traces its wine production to 1920 and works with traditional local varieties from vineyards surrounding its property and elsewhere in the Langhe. Today, the winery is run by Monica Rinaldi and Paolo, continuing the family's winemaking tradition while using modern cellar technology where appropriate.
The estate produces both Barolo and Barbaresco, with San Cristoforo representing an important single-site expression of Nebbiolo from Neive.
Food Pairing
This mature Barbaresco is especially well suited to the rich cuisine of Piedmont.
Pair it with braised beef, roasted or grilled meats, game, wild boar, mushroom risotto, truffle pasta, aged cheeses or traditional Piedmontese dishes.
The producer particularly recommends game, braised beef and dishes featuring the celebrated White Truffle of Alba, including filled pasta with game.
Serve at approximately 61–64°F (16–18°C). With a 2017 Barbaresco of this age and structure, I would give it some time in the glass or decanter before serving.
Wine Details
Producer: Pietro Rinaldi
Vintage: 2017
Wine: San Cristoforo
Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG
Region: Piedmont
Country: Italy
Commune: Neive
Grape: 100% Nebbiolo
Vineyard/Area: San Cristoforo
Exposure: Predominantly southeast
Training: Guyot
Yield: Approximately 5,500 kg/ha
Harvest: Typically first half of October
Fermentation: Temperature-controlled stainless steel
Maceration/Fermentation: Approximately 10–12 days
Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
Aging: 16–18 months in 25-hectoliter Slavonian oak barrels
Serving Temperature: 16–18°C / 61–64°F
Cellaring: Long-term aging potential
Rating: 93 Points, WineAlign
Why You'll Love It
This is a Barbaresco for customers who appreciate traditional Nebbiolo with vineyard identity.
Rather than relying on heavy oak or sheer power, San Cristoforo delivers what makes mature Piedmontese Nebbiolo so compelling: roses, violets, red fruit, savory complexity, minerality, freshness and refined tannins.
The combination of the 2017 vintage, San Cristoforo cru, traditional large-format Slavonian oak aging and several years of bottle development makes this particularly attractive for Barbaresco drinkers looking for a wine that is already developing mature complexity.
