New Release Gajas 2021 Barbaresco Crus

We are delighted to offer Gaja’s Barbaresco single crus from the incredible 2021 vintage. Gaja blazed the trail for producing single cru bottlings; a practice now customary amongst the top producers in Piedmont. Even as far back as 1967, Gaja believed that their fabulous vineyards should be experienced as individual expressions. The terroirs are unique and showcase the ebullient Gaja style in different and glorious ways.

San Lorenzo (the original and flagship 1967 cru) is an incredible 3.38 hectare south facing site, which benefits from warm air currents coming off the Tanaro River. Angelo Gaja dubbed it “the Barolo of Barbaresco”. It has a dark fruit profile – blackcurrants, sour cherry with some black plum. Nutmeg, tar and rose, and a little black olive brine shows through the mid palate. Black pepper, vanilla, wet earth and truffle lift the long ethereal finish. The fruit is soft and alluring, yet the tannins are powerful and muscular, which is common for this wine in its infancy. This needs time but is capable of aging gracefully for decades.

Sori Tildin is positioned at the top of a hill, directly above Costa Russi. Its high-density planting helps to temper the ripeness that might otherwise veer towards excess. This wine always shows wonderfully in its youth. The 2021 was no different, it has so much charm and elegance already – sour cherry, plum and redcurrants, wild strawberry and orange rind burst on the nose. Rose petal and black cherry on the palate. Toasted fennel seeds, wild herbs with clove and wild mushroom blossoming on the finish. The tannins are present but svelte and seamless. This is incredibly good; authoritative but finessed, very impressive.

Costa Russi is south-west facing, below Sori Tildin. A cooler site planted on clay and marl soils, the open valley in front of it provides maximum sun exposure. Naturally, it is the last vineyard to ripen, typically with sweeter tannins and darker, supple fruits which make it more approachable in the short to mid-term than its siblings. It is dark and brooding with a rustic charm reminiscent of some wonderful back vintages. Cherry, blackcurrant and black plum waft from the glass. It has a mineral lift with a ferrous note. Rose, tar and a hint of nutmeg. Oak spice and leather unfurl on the long penetrating finish.

All three wines show clear individual personality and expression, representing very worthy additions to any cellar.