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For sale: Elio Grasso, Barolo Riserva "Rüncot" 1997, Piedmont, Italy – Rare Pristine Back-Vintage from a Historic Debut.
I am offering an exceptionally rare, flawlessly preserved bottle of the 1997 Barolo Riserva Rüncot from the highly acclaimed Elio Grasso estate in Monforte d’Alba. The Rüncot vineyard holds a monumental place in the history of the estate, as it represents Elio Grasso's signature modernist exploration—crafted from choice, south-facing limestone-clay plots and aged meticulously in French oak barriques. Crucially, 1997 is the second-ever commercial vintage produced for this specific luxury Riserva (debuting in 1995), and it comes from a legendary, sun-drenched growing season. Finding an authenticated bottle with almost three decades of perfect provenance is an elite opportunity for Piedmont enthusiasts.
Vintage and Maturity
The 1997 vintage is celebrated in the Langhe as a warm, legendary year that produced incredibly rich, thick-skinned Nebbiolo with opulent fruit concentration and massive structures. While traditional Baroli from this year were often stern, Grasso's barrique-aged Rüncot handled the intense vintage conditions beautifully, absorbing the wood and developing exceptional mid-palate pliancy. In 2026, at 29 years of age, this wine has reached its majestic pinnacle of tertiary maturity. The once-mighty wood-toasted structure and formidable tannins have completely melted, shifting the wine into an incredibly smooth, seamless, and deeply complex winter-style masterpiece.
Critical Standing:
• Wine Spectator: 95 points, praising its "amazing fruit on the nose," dark youthful core, and massive, well-balanced concentration built for an incredibly long life.
• Gambero Rosso: Awarded its highest "Tre Bicchieri" (Three Glasses) accolade upon release, highly celebrating the bottling as an absolute triumph of the modern Barolo movement.
• CellarTracker Community: Earns consistent enthusiast scores up to 94–95 points, noted for its phenomenal savory depth, dense body, and the complete absorption of its original oak profile over decades of cellaring.
Maturity Status
In 2026, the 1997 Rüncot sits magnificently on its "Grand Tertiary Peak." It pours a deep garnet-brick color with dark liquid-tar and amber undertones at the rim. The bouquet is remarkably intense and highly complex, leaping from the glass with notes of maraschino cherry liqueur, dried plums, and dark chocolate, beautifully framed by evolved secondary signatures of black truffle, forest floor, old leather, liquid asphalt, and sweet tobacco leaf. On the palate, it is full-bodied, dense, and luxuriously velvety. The substantial tannins are entirely resolved, leaving a silky mouthfeel perfectly balanced by a fine vein of refreshing acidity and a highly persistent, smoky, and warming finish. It is drinking spectacularly well right now.
Market Price and Value
As true first-era vintages of Grasso's flagship Riserva become nearly impossible to source on the open secondary market, this pristine bottle carries an excellent collector premium.
In the current Swiss and European secondary wine markets (Zurich/Geneva/Milan), a perfectly cellared bottle of 1997 Elio Grasso Rüncot trades between 160 CHF and 220 CHF depending on auction and merchant provenance. It represents an exceptional, high-pedigree addition to a fine wine collection, serving as a perfect piece of mid-90s Piedmontese winemaking history.
Condition and Delivery
• Condition: Pristine state. (e.g., Level: Into neck / Perfect fill for its age, Label: Clean, unblemished, and fully intact, Capsule: Original, firm, and completely unmanipulated). This bottle has been kept continuously horizontal and completely undisturbed in a professional, dark, humidity-controlled private Swiss cellar at a constant 11°C since allocation.
• Handling: An aged, modern-styled Barolo of this concentration creates a heavy amount of fine natural sediment. I highly recommend standing the bottle upright for 24 to 48 hours prior to opening. To fully enjoy its expansive aromatic profile, open the bottle 2 hours before serving to let it slowly breathe, or give it a very gentle, slow decant. Serve at 17–18°C in large Burgundy or technical Nebbiolo glasses.
• Delivery: Local pickup in the Zurich area is highly preferred to ensure this rare bottle remains perfectly resting and safe. Shipping within Switzerland can be easily arranged entirely at the buyer's risk.
