Gaja vertical, March 2017

1961 Bollinger Rare Année
Magnum. Served blind. Golden. Some oxidative notes, yellow fruits, nuts, elegant if very mature, some caramel notes. Fresh acidity, elegant minerals note, lovely balance if again oxidative, smooth mousse, narrower caramel finish. Long. Verging on too old. 93

1978 Gaja Barbaresco
Ruby, garnet rim. Cherries, tar, some vanilla, liquorice, fruity nose, fairly intense, touch of rose hips, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cherries, elegant mid palate, cherries and liquorice, then hollower towards the finish, long somewhat narrower finish. 93

1986 Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo
Ruby, garnet rim. Some mint, nettles, cherries, black tea notes nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, cherries and liquorice, spices, dryer finish. 90

1995 Gaja Barbaresco
Ruby, garnet rim, slight cork.

1990 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi
Ruby, garnet rim. Floral, scented, cherries, red berries, violets, beautiful nose, detailed and quite intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cherries, liquorice, spices, firmer, textured, detailed, long. 94

1999 Gaja Sperss
Ruby. Red berries, fruity, some vanilla, cherries, anise, liquorice, some violets and faint roses note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, structured, liquorice, spices, vanilla, firm texture, long. 93

1976 Gaja Barbaresco
Cloudy pale red, broad orange rim. Notes of Barolo Cinato to it, thin and oxidized palate.

1994 Gaja Barbaresco
Ruby, garnet rim. Some tomatos, herbal notes, cherries and anise nose, leaner. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresher palate, cherries, liquorice, not the most intense, elegant finish. 94

1995 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo
Ruby, thin garnet rim. Cherries, tar, some deeper notes, blueberries notes, vanilla, violets, lifted nose. Touch of VA. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, red berries, cherries and anise, light VA feel again, good length. Might have some brett as well. 89

2009 Gaja Sperss
Bright ruby, garnet rim. Alcohol, ripe, fruity, rich, cherries and liquorice, big nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet, cherries, liquorice, spices, ripe, alcohol shows through, dry woody finish. 92

2011 Gaja Conteisa
Bright ruby. Cherries, raspberries, alcohol, some sweetness on the nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, liquorice, cherries, alcohol, rich and ripe. 91

1971 Gaja Barbaresco
Light cloudy pale ruby core, broad orange rim. Cherries, tar, figs, some dates, touch smoky, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, leaner palate, sweet and sour palate, lean and drying. Nose has younger feel to it than palate. 88

1982 Gaja Barbaresco
Bright ruby, thin brick rim, lots of sediments. Cherries, violets, roses, delicate and nuanced nose, light strawberries nose. Fresh acidity, cherries, elegant and nuanced, tannins ripe ans softening, elegant texture, long. 93

1993 Gaja Costa Russi
Bright ruby, thin garnet rim. Cherries, liquorice, tar, roses, somewhat deeper and fuller nose, fairly rich. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, cherries, anise, some spices, liquorice, playful and lively, detailed, long. 95

1995 Gaja Costa Russi
Ruby. Cherries, tar, floral notes, elegant, detailed nose, quite intense and rich. Some vanilla notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cherries, tar, anise, elegant and playful, leaner and fresher palate than nose suggests, long. 93

2006 Gaja Barbaresco
Magnum. Ruby. Cherries, liquorice, tar and roses, quite rich and intense nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, liquorice, spices, cherries and blueberries, quite intense, long finish. 92

1964 Gaja Barbaresco
Cloudy ruby core, orange rim. Tar, cherries, earthy, some tomato notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, dry and dusty. 85

1975 Gaja Il Cantine Conte Riccardi Barbaresco
Cloudy ruby, brick rim. Lean, broth notes, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, lean palate, thin. It opens up somewhat with more with air, giving some wild strawberries in a gentle way. 87

1978 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi
Ruby, thin brick rim. Cherries, tar, lighter strawberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruity core, leaner, has a nice freshness palate better than nose, elegant structure but not very intense, and a bit drying finish. 86

1987 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi
Ruby, thin brick rim. Floral, scented, red berries, fresh and fruity nose, anise, spices, quite intense, some alcohol notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, cherries, red berries, anise, touch of mint, even with some warmth from alcohol it feels fresh and elegant, long. 91

1999 Gaja Barbaresco
Ruby. Cherries, blackberries, some spices, liquorice, some vanilla, detailed, richer if not the richest. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cherries, elegant, detailed if richer, quite intense, structured finish. Long. 93

2011 Gaja Sperss
Ruby, garnet rim. Cherries, alcohol, liquorice, ripe and intense nose, not too complex. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, some anise, quite alcoholic, leaner but long. 90

2012 Gaja Barbaresco
Bright ruby, garnet rim. Cherries, floral, some anise, liquorice, lighter, elegant, detailed, little bit alcoholic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, ripe, fruity, cherries, alcoholic notes, sweeter, good length, bit warm. 89

2013 Gaja Barbaresco
Bright ruby. Red berries, some anise, vanilla, some alcohol nose, not too complex. Even herbal notes. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruity, fresh, fruity, cherries, red berries, leaner, sweet and alcoholic. 88

2010 Gaja Costa Russi
Bright ruby. Red berries, floral, fruity, leaner, light cherries note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, alcoholic, sweet, liquorice, lacks focus, at least at this stage, but has more going for it than the last few. 90

2010 Gaja Barbaresco
Ruby. Ripe, cherries, liquorice, anise, spices, some vanilla, powerful nose, some alcohol. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, red fruity, liquorice, intense and deep, yet red fruity. Long. 92

2010 Gaja Sori Tildin
Ruby. Cherries, liquorice, roses, fruit driven, some anise and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, cherries, some spices, liquorice, quite intense, red fruity finish, long. 93

2010 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo
Bright ruby. Cherries, fruity, ripe, some liquorice, spices, tighter nose, closed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, cherries, spices, liquorice, anise, intense, some alcohol, long. 93

2013 Gaja Costa Russi
Bright ruby. Cherries, some jammy notes, red fruity, vanilla, rich nose, fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, liquorice, vanilla, fruity and structured, quite concentrated, long. 91

2013 Gaja Sori Tildin
Ruby. Cherries, liquorice, violets, ripe, rich, fruity, dark berries nose, intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cherries, red berries, some anise, spices, liquorice, intense, concentrated, detailed, long. 92

2009 Gaja Conteisa
Ruby. Rich, fruity, spices, liquorice, cherries, some vanilla and alcohol nose, heavier. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, cherries, red berries, sweet and jammy, alcoholic and warm finish, long. 90