Brought this wine to an Italy tasting, it had to be tasted blind. It was set next to the Dessimiss Pinot Grigio (Vie di Romans). The "lightness", freshness of this wine stood out. Very good starter.

Drank from magnum alongside Tignanello 1990 and Flaccianello 1990. This was absolutely the most vital of the three. Still very fruity, not tired at all! Excellent indeed.

Tasted alongside Sassicaia 1990 (from magnum) and Flaccianello 1990. The quality of the wine is obvious. Completely ripe, no waiting needed. Very, very good wine.

Drank alongside Tignanello 1990 and Sassicaia 1990 (magnum). It is tired now, but still a very good wine. Very acidic compared to the cabernet table-partners, but this is misleading: it is as comparing a Bordeaux to a Burgundy. Just enjoy it, but soon!

The wine appeared completely "over the hill" at first, but later it "resurrected". But very hard to judge. So no rating.

Drank in a line-up of Gaja Barbaresco 1988, 1985, 1974 and 1961. This was the first one. It is still fruity, but is a little "light", especially for a 1988. Very good indeed.

This was the second in a line-up of Gaja Barbaresco 1988, 1985, 1974, 1961. The balance of this wine is impeccable, but its acidity clouds it real quality. The other tasters were used to Bordeaux (I am a Burgundy drinker) so had doubts about this wine. The wine was good, but drink soon.

This was the third in a line-up of Gaja Barbaresco 1988, 1985, 1974, 1961. Although it was even outclassed by the 1961, this wine was a small miracle. Completely ripe, of course a high acidity, but this only adds to the balance of this wine. Wow, this is so good!

This was the last bottle in a line-up of Gaja Barbaresco: 1988, 1985, 1974, 1961. The last, but certainly not the least, quite the contrary: this was a great wine indeed, incredible vitality, high acidity, but what excitement! This is so great, perhaps the best Barbaresco I ever had.

Very old, tired, but still agreeable. But no rating. Drink now.

"Crazy" Bob served this wine (from magnum) blind at the end of an Italy tasting. I am a great lover of Burgundy, admire Vogüé and consider Musigny one of the greatest vineyards in the world. But at first smelling and tasting this wine, I was completely lost. Is this pinot noir? Is this Burgundy? Yes, no, yes, no, wait yes. I admit: I did not one second suspected this wine was in the glass. Luckily I have an excuse: the wine was too cold and only opened up after about 20 minutes in the glass. But then the identity of the wine was already revealed, so was I influenced by its exalted reputation? I don't know, I only know that it matched the previous wine of the evening completely (Gaja Barbaresco 1961). Wow, this is so dark and dense, the "sparkle" of the great Burgundies should have given it away (wisdom with hindsight...). Wow again, thanks Bob.

Although I had a few bottles of this wine before and was quite positive about it, at a tasting it was served next to Musigny 1995 of Vogüé (from magnum). This made this wine nearly boring, dusty, tired. I'm sure this was caused by its pairing, because this is a good wine and completely ripe now. Drink soon.

This is a very good sweet Italian wine. But now it was tasted alongside d'Yquem 1995. Not a fair comparison, and it shows... Alongside such a great wine, this wine is everything it should not be, I call it chew-gum-wines. I know this is absolutely not fair, but there it is. So... just don't drink it alongside wines like d'Yquem!

Again a very good example, good, even excellent balance.