Gaja’s 2019 Barbaresco was bottled only a few days before this tasting but it already has sweet roses and red fruits on the nose with very subtle, gentle spice notes. It has a great texture and flows gracefully across the palate. It feels very harmonious with plenty of refreshing acidity and finely integrated tannins. Sublimely elegant with a fine, silt-like texture to the tannins, it is poised, beautifully understated and charming. Keep for 2 years and drink for up to 20 plus.
Clear, brightening ruby garnet. Fragrant, finely marked nose, of raspberry, rose petals and ripe cherries, inviting. Polished, finely meshed tannin characterizes the wine on the palate, like a fine robe, salty, lots of ripe cherry, long finish.
Gaja did not make its cru wines from Barbaresco (like Sorì San Lorenzo) in 2019 because the vineyards suffered repercussions one year after severe hail storms struck in 2018. Because of the irregularity found across the various sites, the best fruit was carefully selected and put into this wine instead. The 2019 Barbaresco is striking and beautiful as a result, with enormous depth and clarity. This is a generous wine with ample structure, lots of vibrant acidity, sweet tannins and a bright core of primary fruit. Gaia Gaja tells me that she considers 2018 to be more structured and vertical; however, but I love the richness and texture of this wine.
A complex red, this reveals multidimensional aromas and flavors of rose, cherry, licorice, mineral and spices. This is fused to a vibrant structure that, for now, gives a taut, almost racy profile. Marrying power and grace, this ends in a long, floral- and spice-tinged aftertaste. Best from 2026 through 2045.
This has aromas of iron, mineral, bitter chocolate, wild strawberries, raw walnuts, orange peel and decayed roses. Medium- to full-bodied, with sleek and very chalky tannins. Lots of fruit on the palate with a fine, fresh and mineral end. Pure and linear. Try in 2025.
Gaja's 2019 Barbaresco is gorgeous. Bright and nervy, with fabulous balance, the 2019 captures all the best this tricky vintage had to offer. Gaja did not bottle any other Barbaresco crus, opting to use the best lots for this bottling. That decision paid off in a 2019 that sizzles with tension. The aromatics alone are captivating. Bright acids lend vibrancy to a core of beautifully delineated Nebbiolo fruit. I can't wait to see how this ages.
Technical Details
BlendNebbiolo
WinemakerAngelo Gaja
CountryItaly
RegionPiedmont
AppellationBarbaresco
Vineyard14 vineyards situated in the municipality of Barbaresco
GAJA! One of Piemonte’s most iconic estates, a true collector’s wine, and simply at the top of the list for the most prestigious and collectible pieces to have in your cellar. We have exactly 5 CASES...and 6 MAGNUMS...so make haste and secure yours today!
97 POINTS! For their “normale” Barbaresco...with a twist. In 2019, because of the devastating impacts of 2018’s hail storms in some of their most prestigious plots, GAJA made the decision to not bottle any of the single crus. That means that all the fruit, from their heralded and famous crus (Sorì San Lorenzo, Costa Russi, and Sorì Tildìn) which regularly fetch $460 to $510+ per bottle on the open market, found its way into this unique and rare bottling in 2019. That’s some special pedigree there, and this wine showcases these top sights admirably.
GAJA was the very first to produce single vineyard wines in Piemonte, and a revolutionary winery for its introduction of Bordeaux varietals to the region, as well as the now commonplace practice of using barrique barrels in the winemaking and aging processes. Our allocation of this rare and coveted bottling is extremely limited, so much so that we were unable to sample a bottle in advance. But we’ve scoured the reviews, from all the top critics, and the feeling seems unanimous...this is something special. Check out the reviews below, but perhaps after you snag a couple of bottles and a magnum for your collection. This should go lightning fast, so do not delay!
About the Producer
The Gaja Winery was founded by Giovanni Gaja in 1859 and has been owned and operated by five generations of the Gaja family. Giovanni Gaja was the great-grandfather of Angelo Gaja, the Winery's current owner. Currently, the Gaja Winery owns 250 acres of vineyards in Piedmont, located in the Barbaresco district (Barbaresco and Treiso) and the Barolo district (Serralunga d'Alba and La Morra).
-product-image_alt-8020-large.jpg)
-product-image_alt-7275-small.jpg)
