Gaja tasting w/Angelo Gaja

I really didn't know what to expect from this tasting. I had been to a Gaja tasting in the past that turned out to be the Magari, Promis, and other wines that were represented by the distributor. The line up that follows exceeded even the highest hopes that I could have had for this event.

• 2005 Ca' Marcanda (Gaja) Magari 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  The nose had currants, blackberrys, oak, spice and earthy aromas. The palate was consistent with the nose. I really enjoyed the earthy and spicy flavors that I attributed to the Cab Franc in this blend. I enjoyed this vintage more than I did the 04 that we tasted late last year.

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• 2005 Gaja Barbaresco 94 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  The nose of this wine had cherry, wet earth, and oak aromas. The palate had flavors of red fruits and started very smooth, but became quite drying at the finish. Great stuff.

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• 2005 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Costa Russi 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Beautiful nose of roses, tar, currants and raspberries. The rose aromas were just incredible. Not perfumed at all, just like rose petals in early summer. The palate had sour cherry, currant, tar and minerals. This was more tannic than the Sori Tildin, but still managed to be fairly approachable now. Another amazing wine.

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• 2005 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì Tildìn 98 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Nose of plum, blackberry, smoke, and toasty oak aromas. The palate was full of beautiful fruit. Big blackberry flavors with earthy/mineral laden nuances. Tannins were present, but this wine was still approachable right away, and not nearly as mouth drying as some of the other wines we tasted. This was an epiphany wine for me. I've not tasted a lot of Nebbiolo, let alone good Nebbiolo, but now I know how amazing the Nebbiolo grape can be. WOTN by far, and one of the best wines that I have ever tasted.

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• 2005 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sorì San Lorenzo 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  The nose had aromas of minerals, graphite and smoke with some dark fruit aromas in the background. The palate had bitter, dark fruit flavors and was easily the most tannic of all the wines we tasted today. It's pretty austere right now, but I'm sure that is only because of how young it is right now. I don't have a lot of experience with Nebbiolo, but this was the furthest out of my comfort zone that I got during this tasting, and it's probably reflected in the score that I gave it. I have no doubts that this is an excellent wine, it's just not a style that I am accoustomed to drinking.

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• 2000 Pieve Santa Restituta (Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  The nose had dark red fruit aromas and a perfume-like note. The palate had strawberry and rhubarb flavors that almost seemed Amarone-like. At times, this wine also seemed to have some oxidized notes to it. The tannins were already pretty resolved. This wine was my least favorite of the tasting, but still a nice wine. Maybe not one that I would seek out to try again, but a well made wine that was educational for me.

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• 1998 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss 93 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  The nose had nice aromas of dark fruits, earth and some spices. There was also a floral note that was not as pure and appealing as in the 05 Costa Russi, but still far from being perfumed. The palate revealed more blackberry flavors than I expected along with spice and an earthy/tobacco note. This was the least acidic wine by far of the tasting, and it was very approachable and drinking well today. Not sure how much longer this would age, or if it would improve any more.

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• 2001 Gaja Langhe Darmagi 96 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Beautiful nose of blackberry, oak and licorice. One of the few times that I have been able to identify licorice aromas in a wine - but it was dead on. The palate had flavors of dark fruits and chocolate with a nuance of tobacco. Very long finish and great mouthfeel. Some minerality was evident at the finish, but it didn't seem out of place at all. My 2nd favorite of the tasting behind the 05 Sori Tiodin. Excellent Cab.

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It was a real honor to be able to taste wines with Angelo Gaja. He really is an amazing man, and was incredibly friendly and generous. It's not hard to see why he's such an important figure in Italian wine after spending just a few hours with him tasting one amazing wine after another. What a great experience!