Barbaresco is one of the greatest Italian wines and it is the wine of Gaja family’s history.  Pure Nebbiolo from fourteen different parcels of vines in the villages of Barbaresco and Treiso. Vinified in stainless steel tanks with 3 weeks of skin contact; it is then aged in barriques for 12 months, and large oak casks for a further 12 months. The wine is always sensual, complex and densely concentrated, with silky tannins. It is the flagship wine of the estate.

Appellation: Barbaresco d.o.c.g.
Variety: Nebbiolo
Vineyard: Gaja Barbaresco is produced with grapes from fourteen estate-owned vineyards located in the villages of Barbaresco.  These vineyards, which comprise a total surface area of fifty-three acres, are located within the historic Barbaresco zone that was delimited in 1933.  The terrains consist of clayey – calcareous marls (white terrains).
Vinification: Fermentation with the skins occurs in stainless steel tanks for three weeks.  The wine is aged in barriques for twelve months and then in large oak casks for an additional twelve months.
Characteristics: Nebbiolo is highly sensitive to the seemingly small variations that give each vineyard its own distinct personality and character.  Combining Nebbiolo from fourteen different vineyards produces a wine that is complete and balanced, a true Barbaresco with excellent fruit supported by firm tannins and good acidity.  The nose is almost sensual in its complexity, with aromas of forest fruits, plums, licorice, mineral and coffee scents; dense structure. Complex and persistent  finish.
First vintage of Barbaresco produced by Giovanni Gaja, the founder: 1859

Each Gaja Barbaresco reflects the characteristics of its respective vintage.  In outstanding vintages, the wine can age for more than thirty years.

Angelo’s father bought this 9 acre vineyard in Barbaresco in 1964; a hilltop named after San Lorenzo, the patron saint of Alba. As with the other single vineyard wines, 5% of Barbera is added to the Nebbiolo. Always the most powerful of Gaja’s single vineyard wines, it has a firm structure, with great depth and concentration. In the best vintages, it can age for 40 or more years.

Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c.
The Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c. appellation was introduced in 1993.  It comprises the hills around Alba and includes the Barolo and Barbaresco zones.  The appellation requires at least 85% Nebbiolo, but does permit a higher percentage of Nebbiolo.
Variety: 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Barbera.
Vineyard: The nine-acre Sorì San Lorenzo vineyard, which is located in the village of Barbaresco, just a few meters far from the centre, lies at an altitude of 850 feet above sea level.  The soil is primarily marl, clay and limestone.
Vinfication: Fermentation with the skins occurs in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature for three weeks. The wine is aged in barriques for twelve months, followed by an additional twelve months of aging in large oak casks.
Characteristics: Sorì San Lorenzo is almost always the most powerful and austere of Gaja’s five single-vineyard wines, usually requiring a longer time to fully develop. It is extremely concentrated, with intense notes of blackcurrants and black cherries and hints of blackberries, mineral notes and aromas of herbs and exotic spices; a colossal, rich wine with a complex structure and great concentration and power. Sorì San Lorenzo has the ability to mature for forty years or more in outstanding vintages.
First vintage produced: 1967.

Until 1995 Sorì San Lorenzo carried the Barbaresco d.o.c.g.  appellation.  Beginning with the 1996 vintage, as with all of Gaja’s single-vineyard wines, it bears the Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c. appellation.  The only d.o.c.g.. wine produced by Gaja is the family’s flagship Barbaresco.  The Gaja single-vineyard philosophy remains the same as it has always been: to express the extraordinary quality potential of each vineyard site in order to produce wines of distinctive personality and unique, inimitable character.

The 8 acre Sorì Tildìn vineyard was bought by the Gaja family in 1934 and is a hilltop with southerly exposure (Sorì) named after Angelo’s grandmother, Clotilde Rey, whose nickname was Tildìn. Mostly Nebbiolo, with 5% Barbera, the wine is a matchless combination of elegance and power; full and rich and always structured with an enormous weight of fine, ripe tannins.

Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c.
The Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c.. appellation was introduced in 1993.  It comprises the hills around Alba and includes the Barolo and Barbaresco zones. 
Variety: 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Barbera.
Vineyard: The eight-acre Sorì Tildìn vineyard, which is located in the village of Barbaresco near the Costa Russi vineyard, lies at an altitude of 890 feet above sea level.  The soil is primarily marl, clay and limestone.
Vinification: Fermentation with the skins n stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature for three weeks.  The wine is aged in barriques for twelve months, followed by an additional twelve months of aging in large oak casks.
Characteristics: All five of Gaja’s single-vineyard wines exhibit great elegance and complexity, qualities that reach a pinnacle of balance in Sorì Tildìn.  It is a wine of great finesse, the quintessential expression of the land and the Nebbiolo grape.  Complex aromas;  minerals, sour cherries, cedar, spices; full and rich in the mouth, very dense texture, a multidimensional wine, marked by an enormous quantity of fine, ripe tannins.  This wine has extraordinary aging potential .
First vintage produced: 1970

Until 1995 Sorì Tildìn carried the Barbaresco d.o.c.g. appellation.  Beginning with the 1996 vintage, as with all of Gaja’s single-vineyard wines, it bears the Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c. appellation.  The only d.o.c.g.. wine produced by Gaja is the family’s flagship Barbaresco.  The Gaja single-vineyard philosophy remains the same as it has always been: to express the extraordinary quality potential of each vineyard site in order to produce wines of distinctive personality and unique, inimitable character.

A 10 acre vineyard acquired in 1950. Costa is the name given to south facing hillsides, in this case, one previously owned by the Russi family. 5% Barbera is blended with the Nebbiolo. Generally the most ‘forward’ of the single vineyard wines, with its wonderful velvety structure, the wine’s great elegance and rich fruit make it a particular favourite. The best vintages will continue to evolve in bottle for 30 years or more.

Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c.
The Langhe Nebbiolo d.o.c. appellation was introduced in 1993.  It comprises the hills around Alba and includes the Barolo and Barbaresco zones.
Variety: 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Barbera.
Vineyard: The eleven-acre Costa Russi vineyard is just a few steps from the Sorì Tildìn vineyard in the village of Barbaresco.  Costa Russi enjoys a southwestern exposure and lies at an altitude of 750 feet above sea level.  The soil is primarily marl, clay and limestone. 
Vinification: Fermentation with the skins occurs in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature for three weeks.  The wine is aged in barriques for twelve months, followed by an additional twelve months of aging in large oak casks.
Characteristics: Among all the Gaja’s single vineyards, Costa Russi is the most cativating and elegant. Shows elegance, ripe fruit and a velvety structure from an early age,  with well-integrated aromas of blackberries, violets and roasted coffee beansa.  Full body with great concentration and purity.  
The wine has excellent aging potential -- more than thirty years in outstanding vintages.First vintage produced: 1978

Until 1995 Costa Russi carried the Barbaresco D.O.C.G. appellation.  Beginning with the 1996 vintage, as with all of Gaja’s single-vineyard wines, it bears the Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C. appellation.  The only D.O.C.G. wine produced by Gaja is the family’s flagship Barbaresco.  The Gaja single-vineyard philosophy remains the same as it has always been: to express the extraordinary quality potential of each vineyard site in order to produce wines of distinctive personality and unique, inimitable character.

Angelo bought these 30 acres of Barolo vines in 1988, in the Marenca-Rivette area in the commune of Serralunga d’Alba, having purchased the grapes for many years. For this reason, Angelo named the vineyard Sperss, the Piedmontese word for nostalgia. There is 6% of Barbera in this dense and beautifully integrated cuvée, noted for its richness, complexity and tremendous longevity.

Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C.
Variety: 94% Nebbiolo, 6% Barbera
Vineyards: Sperss (located in Serralunga/Barolo district)
Aging: 12 months in barriques, 12 months in large oak casks
Available vintage(s): 1998 (magnums), 2000, 2004

A 15 acre part of the Cerequio vineyard in the commune of La Morra bought by Gaja in 1995. Conteisa is Piedmontese for quarrel, a reference to the dispute between the communes of La Morra and Barolo over possession of the Cerequio land. 8% of Barbera is added to the Nebbiolo. The wine is characterised by its sumptuous texture, sweetness of fruit and perfectly integrated tannins.

Appellation: Langhe Nebbiolo D.O.C.
Variety: 92% Nebbiolo, 8% Barbera
Vineyards: Conteisa (located in La Morra/Barolo district)
Aging: 12 months in barriques, 12 months in large oak casks
Available vintage(s): 1997, 2000, 2004

These Cabernet Sauvignon vines, planted in 1978, were the first to be planted in Piedmont since the variety was wiped out by phylloxera in the 19th century. Piedmontese for ‘what a pity’, darmagi was the word uttered by Angelo’s father every time he passed this 5 acre vineyard during its conversion from Nebbiolo to Cabernet Sauvignon. Opulent and strongly cassis in flavour. It is also dense and meaty with enormous extraction, very fine tannins and great persistence of flavour.

Appellation: Langhe D.O.C.
Variety: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Vineyards: Darmagi (located in Barbaresco)
Aging: 6-8 months in barriques, 12 months in large oak casks
Available vintage(s): 1998 (magnums)

A 25 acre vineyard in Treiso, bought by Gaja in 1978. The wine is a blend of Nebbiolo (35%), Merlot (35%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). Each variety is vinified separately and blended before the malolactic fermentation. The wine is then aged in barriques for 18 months and in bottle for 6 months before release onto the market. It is dominated by its pure red fruit flavours and fine, silky tannins.

Appellation: Langhe D.O.C.
Variety: 35% Nebbiolo, 35% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vineyards: Located in Barbaresco, Treiso and Serralunga
Aging: 18 months in barriques, then a minimum of 6 months of bottle aging
Available vintage(s): 2006

To find out availability or to order the wines of Piedmont, please contact us on 020 7908 0660 or email to web@armit.co.uk.