1hr open bottle, sampled at Oinoscent, bottle brought by customer Fully developed brick red color Dried fruit, old dusty oak, some spice, marascino cherry, a bit of pot pouri Palate same flavor profile, dried fruit, sweet fruit, currant, sour cherry, melted tannins, med body, med finish Was that it ?
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Brick red with luscious wild berries lots of truffle mushroom a bit wet forest floor. Medium to full bodied with present but round tannins and a long lingering finish. A good example that great winemakers produce in small years great wines! At the beginning of its apogee
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Nose was subtle yet complex with a lot of berries, earth and coffee. Mouthfeel was supple, mellow and velvety, tannins totally integrated, palate fresh and balanced, with a kick of spice. The wine felt young. Very good.
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In der Nase schöne Noten von dunklem Steinobst; im Gaumen tertiär Aromen von reifen Feigen, Leder, Tabak und schwarzem Café. Noch immer recht präsent, perfekt eingebettete Tannine und vorhandener Säure. Ein Gedicht!
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This bottle was stunning. Still rather fresh, with mostly resolved tannin, lots of earthiness, tar, a touch of cranberry and dried velvets, sour cherries and old leather. Very elegant and a simply delicious, long-lasting finish. Has still some years left. 94
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Couleur brique pâle Nez fermé. On sent tout de même les fruits rouges, en particulier les cerises. Dans la bouche, le vin est à maturité, prêt à boire. Les tannins sont souples, mais la finale est encore légèrement asséchante à l'ouverture de la bouteille. Le tout se bonifie dans le verre. Pas de tertiaire, il semble encore bien en forme. La finale est longue et complexe, tout en finesse. Une belle expérience.
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Done and done. Dark rose. Not much aroma to speak of. No fruit present. Astringent tannin and noticeable acidity. It's past anything useful. Cook with it? A shame.
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Philipponnat in Madrid by La Cava del Pyrene (Plus Private Dinner at La Piperna) (Restaurante Couzapin - Madrid): Too far for a 94. That's it all. Still a pitch-black colour. Tons of sediments. Oxidised notes with a found of violets. Lean on the palate, little sour and pretty short for a Sperss. More than a deception a wine that everybody has to taste one time in life, even at this point. A hoary bottle? Maybe but still drinkable, digestible and profitable.
Demasiado lejos para una 94. Eso fue todo. Todavía de un color negrísimo. Toneladas de sedimentos. Notas oxidativas en nariz con un fondo de violetas. Paño en boca, un poco agria y bastante corta para ser una Sperss. Más que una decepción, un vino que todos deberían catar una vez en la vida, incluso en este estado. ¿Una botella vetusta? Puede ser pero todavía bebible, digestible y aprovechable.
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Opened the two bottles together. The first I opened scared me a bit: no aroma at all. The second one was better, with a subtle nose of red fruit and some balsamic. After 4.5 hours the situation was opposite. Both bottles were very good, but the first one was somehow richer and more complex. A very elegant nose of red fruit, delicate dried flowers, prune, clove, musk, earth, aromatic herbs. Complex elegant and delicate like a racy burgundy gran cru. At palate firm tannins and a still good acidity allowing the wine to keep the pace with a guancia di bue grasso brasata al Barolo. Still very much alive. Good example of how a classy producer can produce a great wine from a minor vintage.
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das Fruchtgerüst baut sich nach ca. 1 Std. (in der Flasche) voll auf. Traumhaft mundfüllend, Frucht ohne Ende, toller Abgang. Oxidiert dann und verliert langsam die Fruchtnoten. Toller Wein, der zeigt wie schwierig es ist solche Kaliber zu trinken :)
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The wine starts with simply good elements but with more time of breathing, it shows more scents and sensational feeling.
Hints of sweet, elegant nose as Lafite, reminds me of Ausone 1996, very seductive.
The texture is austere, firm tannin, good acidity, quite full in body but overall, very good structure.
Within 3.30 hours by enjoy drinking after meal, Nebbiolo has a thin skin as same as Pinot Noir and when I try it with Burgundy glass, Woww.... more elegant and mind blowin' in its nose.
Round and beautiful like drinking good wine from Morey St. Denis. Earth combined with fruit very nice. Very classic and hints a little bit of Jayer's smell.
Last 6-7 months I drank this bottle like a table wine and this time I try after meal...very nice indeed.
Finish is like nothing happened except the memory, back to ordinary, a simply good wine that is my heart's desire.
If one is always lean on the top vintages, it's a shame. You're already missed the key of drinking those wine. Please try 1993/1994 Sperss. Weak vintage will show the truth of nature and the real thing. Cheers !!!
The acidity and tannin structure declares itself, this wine can go easily another 20 years more. Drink now - 2040
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Beautiful mature bouquet with cedar, tobacco and autumn forest. On the palate a mature wine with some good oak, chocolate, firm acidity and soft tannin. Elegant wine with a good complexity. Completely ready now, but no real hurry.
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Still showing serious tannins, but evolved enough now to provide serious drinking pleasure. Solid fruit backbone and velvety mouthfeel, this was a perfect match for an equally rich cut of NY steak. Totally worth the money.
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Expressive and sexy Barolo nose, cassis and light smoke. On the palate, black berries, plums, still slightly tannic. Lacking a bit in structure and medium finish. Enjoyable and ready to drink.
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I chose this very expensive bottle to accompany a gorgeous venison dish at Mulberry Restaurant, Langshott Manor (England), which it did beautifully. The bottle was poured into a decanter usually used for magnums, thereby providing more surface area for air to make contact and help the wine release its ample aromas and flavour.
Sight: An almost inky, port-like colour in the middle with russet edges. Nose: Kerosene upfront but this quickly dispersed in favour of parma violets and liquorice. Taste: This is a wine that won't let go; every sip provides an explosion of fruit, particularly plum and blackcurrant, and it lasts and lingers for a long time. Tannins provide a heavy dry mouth but the flavours intensify the longer the bottle is open. Very satisfying.
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My first Gaja Sperss experience, saw it on the wine list at Al Presidente restaurant in Rome at a price I couldn't resist. Even though it was not rated the best year this proves that the good producers can still produce great wine in a soft year. A very elegant wine with great fruit that continued to open as dinner progessed. A Barolo that was really ready to drink. Black cherries in the mouth and nose and a wonderful finish that does what wine should is "leave you wanting more"
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Instant candied Barolo nose. A wonderful, full bodied, very large and smooth for its age Barolo. I like this wine a ton and always have. I think it has not reached its peak, and when it does it will impress for years after that.
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12/9/2023 - kostaslonis Does not like this wine:
1hr open bottle, sampled at Oinoscent, bottle brought by customer
Fully developed brick red color
Dried fruit, old dusty oak, some spice, marascino cherry, a bit of pot pouri
Palate same flavor profile, dried fruit, sweet fruit, currant, sour cherry, melted tannins, med body, med finish
Was that it ?
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11/25/2021 - The_Cat Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brick red with luscious wild berries lots of truffle mushroom a bit wet forest floor. Medium to full bodied with present but round tannins and a long lingering finish.
A good example that great winemakers produce in small years great wines! At the beginning of its apogee
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11/19/2021 - j30 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose was subtle yet complex with a lot of berries, earth and coffee. Mouthfeel was supple, mellow and velvety, tannins totally integrated, palate fresh and balanced, with a kick of spice. The wine felt young. Very good.
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5/18/2019 - Mipesu Likes this wine: 96 Points
In der Nase schöne Noten von dunklem Steinobst; im Gaumen tertiär Aromen von reifen Feigen, Leder, Tabak und schwarzem Café. Noch immer recht präsent, perfekt eingebettete Tannine und vorhandener Säure. Ein Gedicht!
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2/17/2019 - suilesor25 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful. Smoky, earthy, dark fruit. Paired beautifully with Italian winter truffles.
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11/30/2018 - MNig Likes this wine: 94 Points
This bottle was stunning. Still rather fresh, with mostly resolved tannin, lots of earthiness, tar, a touch of cranberry and dried velvets, sour cherries and old leather. Very elegant and a simply delicious, long-lasting finish. Has still some years left. 94
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4/12/2018 - Laurentcg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Couleur brique pâle
Nez fermé. On sent tout de même les fruits rouges, en particulier les cerises.
Dans la bouche, le vin est à maturité, prêt à boire. Les tannins sont souples, mais la finale est encore légèrement asséchante à l'ouverture de la bouteille. Le tout se bonifie dans le verre.
Pas de tertiaire, il semble encore bien en forme.
La finale est longue et complexe, tout en finesse.
Une belle expérience.
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7/2/2016 - willthethrill Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Soft and showing its age, I just found this too tight to be enjoyable. Sicily
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4/29/2016 - bubbachumps wrote:
There is tannin and mouthfeel, but the nose is totally gone, finishes earthy. This wine is way over the hill.
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4/29/2016 - Thirsty1 Does not like this wine:
Done and done. Dark rose. Not much aroma to speak of. No fruit present. Astringent tannin and noticeable acidity. It's past anything useful. Cook with it? A shame.
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6/12/2014 - Harley1199 wrote:
Philipponnat in Madrid by La Cava del Pyrene (Plus Private Dinner at La Piperna) (Restaurante Couzapin - Madrid): Too far for a 94. That's it all.
Still a pitch-black colour. Tons of sediments.
Oxidised notes with a found of violets.
Lean on the palate, little sour and pretty short for a Sperss.
More than a deception a wine that everybody has to taste one time in life, even at this point.
A hoary bottle? Maybe but still drinkable, digestible and profitable.
Demasiado lejos para una 94. Eso fue todo.
Todavía de un color negrísimo. Toneladas de sedimentos.
Notas oxidativas en nariz con un fondo de violetas.
Paño en boca, un poco agria y bastante corta para ser una Sperss.
Más que una decepción, un vino que todos deberían catar una vez en la vida, incluso en este estado.
¿Una botella vetusta? Puede ser pero todavía bebible, digestible y aprovechable.
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1/1/2014 - Bluespolo wrote: 94 Points
Opened the two bottles together. The first I opened scared me a bit: no aroma at all. The second one was better, with a subtle nose of red fruit and some balsamic. After 4.5 hours the situation was opposite. Both bottles were very good, but the first one was somehow richer and more complex. A very elegant nose of red fruit, delicate dried flowers, prune, clove, musk, earth, aromatic herbs. Complex elegant and delicate like a racy burgundy gran cru. At palate firm tannins and a still good acidity allowing the wine to keep the pace with a guancia di bue grasso brasata al Barolo. Still very much alive. Good example of how a classy producer can produce a great wine from a minor vintage.
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11/23/2013 - Charlie Carnes Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Five years have added astringent tannins and left the fruit somewhere behind.
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10/20/2013 - absolut Likes this wine: 92 Points
das Fruchtgerüst baut sich nach ca. 1 Std. (in der Flasche) voll auf. Traumhaft mundfüllend, Frucht ohne Ende, toller Abgang. Oxidiert dann und verliert langsam die Fruchtnoten. Toller Wein, der zeigt wie schwierig es ist solche Kaliber zu trinken :)
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10/2/2013 - noppakit s. wrote: 93 Points
The wine starts with simply good elements but with more time of breathing, it shows more scents and sensational feeling.
Hints of sweet, elegant nose as Lafite, reminds me of Ausone 1996, very seductive.
The texture is austere, firm tannin, good acidity, quite full in body but overall, very good structure.
Within 3.30 hours by enjoy drinking after meal, Nebbiolo has a thin skin as same as Pinot Noir and when I try it with Burgundy glass, Woww.... more elegant and mind blowin' in its nose.
Round and beautiful like drinking good wine from Morey St. Denis. Earth combined with fruit very nice. Very classic and hints a little bit of Jayer's smell.
Last 6-7 months I drank this bottle like a table wine and this time I try after meal...very nice indeed.
Finish is like nothing happened except the memory, back to ordinary, a simply good wine that is my heart's desire.
If one is always lean on the top vintages, it's a shame. You're already missed the key of drinking those wine. Please try 1993/1994 Sperss. Weak vintage will show the truth of nature and the real thing.
Cheers !!!
The acidity and tannin structure declares itself, this wine can go easily another 20 years more. Drink now - 2040
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9/28/2012 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful mature bouquet with cedar, tobacco and autumn forest. On the palate a mature wine with some good oak, chocolate, firm acidity and soft tannin. Elegant wine with a good complexity. Completely ready now, but no real hurry.
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8/16/2012 - robmatic wrote: 93 Points
Still showing serious tannins, but evolved enough now to provide serious drinking pleasure. Solid fruit backbone and velvety mouthfeel, this was a perfect match for an equally rich cut of NY steak. Totally worth the money.
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12/19/2011 - Jack O'Brien wrote:
Sadly this was gone. Still had a huge tannic presence but the fruit was so faded and stew-like that it really left for a dissapointing wine.
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12/11/2009 - rwstorer wrote: 93 Points
Surprisingly light in body with a smooth black cherry flavor. Nice balance and a bit soft in style.
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10/30/2009 - HIT wrote: 90 Points
Expressive and sexy Barolo nose, cassis and light smoke. On the palate, black berries, plums, still slightly tannic. Lacking a bit in structure and medium finish. Enjoyable and ready to drink.
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3/5/2009 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 87 Points
1994 Gaja Barolo Sperss (Italië, Piemonte, Langhe, Barolo) Kleur: Medium roodbruin Aroma / bouquet: Gemiddeld expressief, rijp, herfstgeuren, leer, hout, sigarenkistjes. Smaak / Afdronk: Vol en rijp, boterzacht, zachte zuren, krachtige maar boterzachte tannines, alleen in de afdronk iets drogend. Algemeen / potentieel: Mooie wijn maar had er toch iets meer van verwacht. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 10 + Smaak / Afdronk: 15 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 87/100
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2/1/2009 - idrinkvino wrote: 86 Points
Just did not do it for me. A little pruney and without much Nebbiolo character.
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11/20/2008 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
French Bakery 2nd ANNIVERSARY BYO BAROLO Dinner, November 20, 2008; 11/18/2008-11/20/2008 (The French Bakery, 1023 Kane Concourse, Bay Harbor Islands, FL): Craig's wine. 5 of 16 firsts, ave 92.2. Me(Mark)-96, most memorable. Craig, no score, misidentified it as the 95, lighter leaner, but great finish. Charlie-94, powerful ripe sweet tannins, tar. smoke.
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11/1/2008 - jpcairney wrote: 93 Points
I chose this very expensive bottle to accompany a gorgeous venison dish at Mulberry Restaurant, Langshott Manor (England), which it did beautifully. The bottle was poured into a decanter usually used for magnums, thereby providing more surface area for air to make contact and help the wine release its ample aromas and flavour.
Sight: An almost inky, port-like colour in the middle with russet edges. Nose: Kerosene upfront but this quickly dispersed in favour of parma violets and liquorice. Taste: This is a wine that won't let go; every sip provides an explosion of fruit, particularly plum and blackcurrant, and it lasts and lingers for a long time. Tannins provide a heavy dry mouth but the flavours intensify the longer the bottle is open. Very satisfying.
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10/5/2008 - mrzippy wrote: 95 Points
My first Gaja Sperss experience, saw it on the wine list at Al Presidente restaurant in Rome at a price I couldn't resist. Even though it was not rated the best year this proves that the good producers can still produce great wine in a soft year. A very elegant wine with great fruit that continued to open as dinner progessed. A Barolo that was really ready to drink. Black cherries in the mouth and nose and a wonderful finish that does what wine should is "leave you wanting more"
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8/5/2008 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 94 Points
Instant candied Barolo nose. A wonderful, full bodied, very large and smooth for its age Barolo. I like this wine a ton and always have. I think it has not reached its peak, and when it does it will impress for years after that.
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8/13/2007 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
'94 Themed Wine Dinner for Jeff Contreras's Birthday (Chez Jason and Julie, Orinda, California): Rich, ripe, spicy plum and dried cherry nose; yummy dried cherry, tart plum, cranberry palate with structure and depth; medium-plus finish 93+ pts.
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11/19/2006 - idrinkvino wrote: 90 Points
Sweet scents of floral and pez, and deep flavours of leather, tannins, prunes and fruit backing. Not my favorite Gaja, but a Gaja all the same.
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