2018 Barbaresco, Gaja, Piemonte (Half Bottle)

£99.75 inc. VAT

Recently released and considered ‘the hallmark of the Gaja estate’, which in turn has been described as maker of ‘the finest Italian wines ever made’ this is certainly a bottle to get excited about.

2018 in North Italian viticulture was certainly not without its dramas; an unusual April heatwave, an incredibly rainy summer (including a hailstorm that resulted in a 30% loss in overall production) and a windy, dry and hot September provided challenges throughout the year. Despite all of this, or perhaps in spite of, this vintage is widely regarded as hugely outstanding and far better than 2017.

These Nebbiolo grapes come from vines that are 40 years old and sit at a height between 250 and 330m above sea level, covering a surface of 21.4 hectares. They undergo fermentation and then are macerated in oak for 12 months before they are blended and aged in oak for a further 12 months.

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate sums it up nicely with her note below. She rates Gaja’s Barbaresco as one of the best she has tasted from the 2018 vintage, the highest scoring wine getting 95 points and Gaja scoring 94+.

“The Gaja 2018 Barbaresco is a wine of grace and purpose, with an elegant bouquet and a more powerful palate presence. These recent releases from the venerated house of Gaja are some of the most transparent and honest expressions to be found anywhere in the Langa. Some of the flashiness we saw in the past is today replaced by subtle Nebbiolo nuances and finesse, with crushed flowers, coriander, wild berry, smoke, tar and candied orange peel. This shift in character runs parallel to the slow and careful management transition from an older generation to a younger one. This 2018 vintage comes alive in the mouth, thanks to its balanced acidity and the absolutely bright and pristine quality of fruit delivered with such care.”

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