Barbaresco Gaja 2018

Gaja is perhaps one of the most important names in Italian fine wine and is practically synonymous with the region of Piedmont in northwest Italy. This is the flagship “entry-level” Barbaresco produced from fruit sourced from 14 vineyards and aged for 12 months each in barrique and large oak casks. Despite the challenges during the growing season with cooler temperatutres and rain, 2018 was considered a better vintage than the hot 2017. In fact, no Crus were made for the first time since 2012 with all the fruit from Sori Tilden and half the Costa Russi blended into this wine. This is linear and texturally firm, yet typically aromatic and expressive, with the potential for at least two decades of bottle age.