Garagiste 2001 Gaja Tasting

Hosted by Garagiste in their warehouse on Saturday afternoon. An excellent overall tasting. Jon, Pat and Co. ensured that there were excellent stems provided for tasting, had adequate space for people to walk about, and enough tables pouring that one never had to wait long to get to the wine. In addition, they provided a host of cheeses from Piedmont as well as a few from other European countries. Many of them complemented the wine quite nicely. Finally, Gaia Gaja was on hand to introduce the vintage and answer any questions about the production, the estate, or anything else. A wonderful experience.

Notes are short as they were jotted down during the tasting. No place was available to sit and write anything extensive. Wines were served non-blind after about 3 hrs of double decanting. In addition, this is the first time that I am tasting these wines.

The 2001 lineup was tasted first

• 2001 Gaja Langhe Sito Moresco 88 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  First wine of the afternoon. Expected deep garnet in color. Nose of plum. Red and a bit of black fruits on the palate with firm tannins on the finish. Nice and the best deal of the bunch.

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• 2001 Gaja Barbaresco 90 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Dark red, with penetrating light. Nose a little closed. Difficult to pick out, but aromas of darker plums and cherries. Finish a bit shorter than others. Seemed to be a wine well suited for food with excellent acidity.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Costa Russi 91 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  A bit deeper red on the rim. This one was totally closed. Barely able to get a hint of red fruits and earth. A little more structure on the palate with integrated acidty and tannins. Surprised by the showing of this wine.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì Tildìn 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Worked this wine for a while in the glass. Gave a bit more than the Cost Russi, but also a bit closed. Pleasing notes of sweet plums and dark berries. Mouth filling with strong finish.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì San Lorenzo 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Now we are talking. Much more expressive than some of the earlier wines. Lovely black cherry and spice on the nose carrying into a fruit filled palate. Sweet moderately tannic finish.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Conteisa 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Wow. This was by far the best wine of the flight. Deeper ruby. Very expressive nose with, cherries, plum, spice. I did not get the licorice noted by many others. Balance in the finish with persistence of silky tannins. Showing surprisingly well now. My WOTN.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Deep red with a little purple. Wonderful nose of earth, mushroom, spices. Palate coating with flavors of berry fruit and earth. Very powerful. Finished with elegance and moderate tannins. Second in line after the Contesia.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Darmagi 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Deeper yet! Dark purple. Very vibrant, interesting nose. Hints of cassis, but much more earthiness than I am used to from cabernet. Plalate with dark berries and cassis. Nice tannic finish. This should continue to get much better. I felt that this was third in line after the Conteisa and Sperss.

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The tasting was finished off with a couple of Brunello wines from the 1999 vintage

• 1999 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Bright red with garnet at the core. Notes of red berries with spice dominate here. Fleshy mouthfeel with smooth finish. Better than most Sangiovese.

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• 1999 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  One of the best sangiovese wines I have had in quite a while. Floral aroma with spice and berries on palate. A little more tannic bite on the finish, but not drying.

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Overall a great tasting. It was a blast to talk to Gaia about the stories behind the wines names, particularly the Darmagi. In addition, it was fasciniating to learn a little bit about what it is like to grow up in the Gaja family.