Binny's South Loop Gaja Tasting
Binny's South Loop Chicago Illinois
Tasted February 25, 2008 by Claudio161 with 563 views
Introduction
Gaia Gaja came to Chicago and revere us with her beauty that matches the sultry essence of her wines. She's now slowly taking the reigns at Gaja and shows an amazing proclivity for carrying the torch forward in her love and passion for her families heritage in the wine industry.
I had not really tasted much of Gaja's products prior to this event, but I have had barolo's and barbaresco's and really every Italian wine with the exception of Brunello's.
Flight 1 (6 notes)
Sight: appears to be a clarified medium red body
Nose: 1st impression: Great Nose! Honey, wood, raisinous, great red fruit. Nose strikes me with balance.
Taste: Hazelnut, red fruits, balanced. Some slight heat and acidity (to be expected for the young wine). Medium bodied. Mid-palate is the weak point, strong point is the attack and finish. Still a very impressive wine.
Gaia Gaja stated that the wine was lighter in body than the 2000 or 1997. Nebbiolo's are traditionally not much on fruits but more emphasized on spices and floral aspects.
Overall: One heck of an impressive Barbaresco
Nose: Great nose. Heavier than the barbaresco tasted this evening. More fruit expressions than the barbaresco. Earth, dark red fruits, the more it was aerated... the more it opened up and continually evolved. Candy, more aromatic herbs, tree sap.
Taste: Awesome. Balanced, fruity, acid and tannins in check, velvety, powerful and a nice long finish.
Overall: One of my first Brunellos and I was very impressed.
Nose: Some auto body shop smells (but in a good way!), new car smell?, fresh leather, strong red fruits, more powerful than the Rennina of the same year. Weird aspect - seemed to suck the air out of the glass - like a vacuum. Raspberry notes started to come out as well. Constantly evolving - notes were fleeting and changing - very very interesting wine!
Taste: Simply amazing and balanced. Hazelnuts, fruits, toasted oak vanillins, awesome finish.
Overall: a 94+ point wine. Needs a little more time - but holy cow! No I know what I want to add to my Christmas wish list!!!
Nose: Austere candied notes, earthy, some nice flower garden smells, great structure on the nose- perfume and flowers along with a background of oak vanillins.
Taste: Very smooth. Integrated, elegant, balanced, really not tannic, high acidity levels should make for some serious aging.
Background: 1967 of the same had a lack of acidity and the 2001 and 2004 will age better according to Gaia Gaja.
Overall: 95+ points and I love this stuff!
Nose: Syrupy/honey/port-esque notes then you aerate the wine some more and it starts to change and evolve - some fruits but lots and lots of floral and herbs.
Taste: Heavier and some acid on the finish when compared to the Costa Russi, but still is all seems to be assembled and coming together in an excellent way. Super floral notes kept hitting me while tasting. This was like drinking liquid flowers!
Overall: My wine of the night. 95+ points- could be a 97 or 98 point wine in time.
Nose: Amazing perfume nose. Like a white flower garden. Some whisps of port-like essence combined with hazelnut and vanillins.
Taste: Balance, strength, length, great attack/mid palate/finish. The tannins were a little bit stronger but it is a darn impressive wine.
Overall: Again - really enjoyed the wine. Wondering if Gaja makes anything bad? Really an amazing producer. 94- points.
Closing
WOW. Let me say it again - WOW.
The wines blew me away and I have a whole new level of reverence for the wines that are Gaja.
I strongly encourage you to buy some bottles for those special occasions.