Le Coste
leh KOS-teh
A sandy-soiled Barolo MGA in the Barolo commune, known for silky tannins and its historic blending role with the neighboring Brunate cru.
Le Coste is a Barolo MGA in the commune of Barolo, Piedmont, prized for sandy soils that yield lighter, silkier tannins. The site gained recognition through Giuseppe Rinaldi, who blended it with Brunate to create structural balance. MGA regulations introduced after 2010 changed how the wine is labeled.
- Classified as a Barolo MGA (Menzione Geografica Aggiuntiva) in the Barolo commune
- Sandy soils produce Nebbiolo with lighter tannins compared to clay-dominant neighboring sites
- Giuseppe Rinaldi is the most notable producer associated with Le Coste
- Pre-2010, Rinaldi blended 60 to 75% Brunate with 25 to 40% Le Coste in his flagship wine
- The blending strategy used Le Coste to soften Brunate's more austere, clay-driven tannin structure
- Post-2010 MGA regulations require single-vineyard labeling; the wine is now labeled Brunate but may still contain up to 15% Le Coste
- Alternate names include La Coste and Coste
Location and Soils
Le Coste sits within the commune of Barolo in the Barolo DOCG, Piedmont. The site is distinguished by its sandy soils, which set it apart from many neighboring crus that sit on heavier clay-limestone or Tortonian-era soils. Sandy soils drain quickly, warm efficiently, and produce Nebbiolo with finer, more supple tannins. This textural softness made Le Coste a natural blending partner for richer, more structured sites like Brunate.
- Located in the Barolo commune, one of the historic heartland villages of Barolo DOCG
- Sandy soils contribute to lighter tannin extraction and higher-toned aromatic profiles
- Alternate names La Coste and Coste appear on older labels and in historical references
The Rinaldi Blending Tradition
Giuseppe Rinaldi built a legendary reputation around a pre-MGA bottling that combined Brunate and Le Coste. The formula ranged from 60 to 75% Brunate with 25 to 40% Le Coste, using the sandier site to temper Brunate's more austere, clay-based tannin structure. After the 2010 introduction of MGA regulations, which required wines carrying a vineyard name to contain at least 85% fruit from that site, Rinaldi shifted to labeling the wine simply as Brunate. Le Coste may still contribute up to 15% to that bottling, preserving a measure of the historic blending philosophy within the boundaries of current law.
- Pre-2010 blend: 60 to 75% Brunate, 25 to 40% Le Coste
- Blending goal was tannin balance, with Le Coste softening Brunate's structure
- Post-2010 MGA rules require single-vineyard labeling at minimum 85% from named site
- Rinaldi's Brunate bottling may still include up to 15% Le Coste under current regulations
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Open Wine Lookup →Elegant, floral, and high-toned Nebbiolo with cherry and strawberry fruit, silky tannins, and a lighter body profile attributable to the sandy soils of the site.
- Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Brunate$150-200The historic benchmark blending Le Coste with Brunate; post-2010 bottles may still include up to 15% Le Coste.Find →
- Le Coste is classified as a Barolo MGA within the commune of Barolo, not La Morra or Castiglione Falletto
- Sandy soils are the key soil distinction; most Barolo MGAs sit on Helvetian or Tortonian clay-limestone
- Giuseppe Rinaldi historically blended Le Coste (25 to 40%) with Brunate (60 to 75%) pre-2010
- Post-2010 MGA rules require minimum 85% from the named vineyard; Le Coste can still contribute up to 15% to Rinaldi's Brunate
- Wine style is elegant and floral with silky tannins, reflecting sandy soil influence on Nebbiolo