Gaja Tasting hosted by Angelo Gaja

Angelo Gaja poured the these wines on the 2nd of 2 nights in Chicago. The event Otis and I attended was sponsered by Sams Wine and Paterno Imports and was invitation only (I don't think they sold tickets for the 2nd night). I was fortunate enough to be given 2 free tickets by an employee at Sams.

This tasting was held shortly after some comments about Mr. Gaja being "cold and souless" which were made by Danielle Cernelli, Editor of Gambero Rosso. Mr Gaja certainly was passionate about his wines and seemed very amiable. Robert Parker seems to think highly of him and insinuated that there may be some unspoken reasons for the attack. Does he have an ego? Perhaps. But if I were consistently heaped with praise about being the greatest living winemaker in Italy, I would too.

Before I post my notes on the wines, I'd like to make an observation about one of the comments made by Angelo Gaja last night. He seemed to dislike the trend toward single vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco because it made blended wines (like his Barbaresco appear lesser quality when they were not in his opinion). I did not mention this to him; but, did he forget that he makes 3 single vineyard Barbaresco's of his own (Sori San Lorenzo, Sori Tilden and Costa Russi). Lets not even mention the 2 single vineyard Barolo's he makes.

• 2002 Gaja Langhe Rossj Bass 87 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  This had a Chardonnay profile to my palate and I mentioned to Otis that it was not my style. This was a walking around wine at the reception before the tasting so I did not take notes. 87 points.

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• 2000 Gaja Langhe Alteni di Brassica 86 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  I thought this Sauvignon Blanc was more Chardonnaylike than either of the Chards poured (at least the nose was). Petrol nose. Notes of spice, pineapple and a bit of oak on the finnish. An austere wine. Gaja claimed this could age for 10 years. Otis and I thought it did not have the stuffing although he would know better than us. Light to medium bodied. 86 points.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Chardonnay Gaia & Rey 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  This vineyard was planted in 1979. My favorite white of the night. More like a Chablis than a Meursault or Cal Chard. Stunning nose of bright fruit and white flowers. Notes of vanilla, peach and coconut (Otis pointed this last one out). Rather gripping and tart on the midpalate. 89-90 points.

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• 2002 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Promis Toscana IGT 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  This wine is made with 55% Merlot (I can't recal the rest of the cepage). A very nice wine albeit on the youthful side. It's tightness and youth were most pronounced on the finish. On the palate, it was an earthy wine with a high glycerin level. Notes of blackberry and leather. 90 points.

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• 1999 Gaja Langhe Sito Moresco 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  This blended (Nebbiolo, Cab and Merlot) wine comes from vineyards in Barolo and Barbareso. Violet and cherry nose. Dry tannins with notes of red fruit and dried mushrooms. Well rounded. 90 points.

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• 1999 Gaja Langhe Darmagi 89 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  This vineyard was planted in 1978. A California Cabernet styled wine with an Italian bent. Tannic and somewhat closed in my opinion. It did show plenty of forward fruit with notes of leather, blackberry and cassis. Will age well. 89-90 points.

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• 1998 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss 97 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  The wine of the night for me. A declassified single vineyard Barolo. Long thin legs and darker than the Barbarescos. A bit higher in acidity than the other wines. Notes of berry, anise, spice box and wet earth. A well integrated, seemless wine with great depth. This wine just flowed. Needs time though. 96-97 points.

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• 1999 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì Tildìn 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  This was a fantastic wine also; but, I did not think it was in the same league as the Sperss. Soft aromas of saddle leather and red fruit. Good complexity but a little softer than the Sperss. Notes of ****ake mushroom, resin and black cherry. Needs time. 93 points

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• 2000 Gaja Barbaresco 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  I reversed the order when we got to the Barbaresco's and tried them youngest to oldest. A nose of cereal and oatmeal. Big and tannic with notes of coffee and tight black fruit. Rather dense. This wine is wide open now and needs time to come together and will improve. It was interesting to compare the scores of James Suckling and Daniel Thomases (of WA) to my own on this wine since they were 5 points apart. I think WA missed the boat on this one. 93+ points.

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• 1999 Gaja Barbaresco 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  This was the least impressive of the Barbaresco at the Gaja tasting. A wet earth and slightly sweet nose. Gripping tannins with slightly sour notes of black cherry and plum. A young wine but I'm not sure how much this will improve. Dry finnish. 91? points.

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• 1989 Gaja Barbaresco 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Poured by Angelo Gaja at a private tasting. A nose of wet potting soil. A mature profile but the tannins are still firm. Dry. Notes of blackberry and cassis with some nice secondary flavors showing up on the finish. 93-94 points.

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• 1978 Gaja Barbaresco 95 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  The only wine which came close to the 1998 Sperss; but then I have a soft spot for aged wines. Good red color and showing very little bricking in my opinion. Very unique nose (the type of nose that usually only appears with age). Classic notes of almond, cherry and truffles. Complex and surprisingly fresh with noticeable tannins. A testament to the aging ability of Angelo Gaja's wines. This wine does not show signs of fading yet. Perhaps blending is the way to go afterall. 95 points.

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