Gaja, Barbaresco 2015

£179.95 per bottle

ABV 14%

Tasting Notes
"I tasted this wine over two sittings, one at the winery and one at my home office a few weeks later. Although I can't claim any extraordinary differences between the two sessions, I noticed a few minimal shifts that are essential to understanding the wine's future aging ability. The 2016 Barbaresco starts off slow at first, showing a small margin of aromatic evolution in the glass. But come back two hours later, and you can almost hear the soft sounds of the symphony playing just below the surface. The 2016 vintage is characterized by the solid intensity and firmness of its aromas, which transcend fruit and veer toward balsamic herb, licorice, tar and smoke instead. The tannins offer a moment of sweetness and softness, before you are aware of their undeniable firmness. In all, there is a certain glossiness or satiny quality to the mouthfeel that underlines the wine's carefully crafted integration. I would describe this as a classic and also a somewhat austere Barbaresco that fully deserves extra cellar time to stretch those tight muscles and grow in volume. This wine will award those who wait."
Wine Advocate-Parker 96/100

Food
Grilled and Roasted Red Meats
Grilled and Roasted White Meats
Pizza/Pasta
Casseroles/Stews
Mature Strong Cheeses
Well placed to complement game such as wild duck or pheasant

Region
The grapes come in from 14 vineyards situated in the municipality of Barbaresco. The land, at a height between 250 and 330 m above sea level, covers a surface of 21.4 hectares with the vines being on average 40 years old.

Producer
The Rivetto family has been established in the Piedmont region since 1902, and it remains very much a family concern to this day. The family own various vineyard sites around the historic town of Alba which are planted with the famous Nebbiolo grapes that make both classic and modern styles of Barolo.

Media
James Suckling awarded the 2015 vintage 96 points.