Gaja arguably produces the finest expression of Barbaresco. Some would say that Angelo Gaja was to a greater or lesser extent responsible for putting Barbaresco on the map. He succeeded in elevating his family’s estate from relative obscurity to being one of the most sought after names in the world of fine wine. Decades ahead of his time, he helped breathe life and dynamism into a much underrated region and spearheaded the movement towards single cru bottlings as early as the 1960s. The straight Barbaresco, however, is possibly the best value wine in the Gaja stable. Barbaresco Gaja 2016 is exquisitely expressive and seductively aromatic. It has a wonderful structure and intensity which is held together by pure and precise fruit; an elegant yet serious drop.
2016 is set to be an historic vintage in Barbaresco. The 2016 Barbarescos have been lauded by Galloni as “some of the most compelling young wines he has tasted in twenty years of visiting the region”. In 2016 favourable climatic conditions produced crops of high quality and quantity, with a sugar concentration to rival the richness of 2015 but with more pronounced structure and acidity, which will give them wonderful aging potential.
Read MoreBarbaresco Gaja is Monica Larner’s top scoring Barbaresco from the 2016 vintage with 96 Points.
"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." Score: 96/100. Monica Larner, RobertParker.com
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