Barbaresco

"Transparent ruby red with a chimney red fading rim. Spicy notes of cloves, allspice, mace and pepper mingle with cherries, bay and raspberry jelly, currant leaves and floral top notes of orange blossom complete the delight. On the palate, Crichët Pajé presents itself with great calm in a steady flow. Nothing is brash or exuberant here, but shines with distinguished elegance - an equilibrium in perfect balance. The aromatically exuberant nose is disciplined on the palate by the long, calm flow of focused, cool acidity, on whose shores fully ripe and fine-grained tannins entwine. Silky with an almost aristocratic nobility, its enormous complexity is revealed in the second sip when the flavors begin to unravel in the epic finish like a massive Win-Zip file. A wine for today, for tomorrow and for many, many more years to come. Undisputedly world class." Sebastian Bordthäuser (Sommelier und Wein-Journalist)

"Made with extremely old vines, the youngest of which are over 60 years old and most much older, this opens with aromas of new leather, scorched earth, underbrush and balsamic notes of camphor. Concentrated and boasting a great depth of flavors, the structured, full-bodied palate delivers raspberry compote, dried black cherry, carob and hazelnut alongside firm, enveloping tannins. Another compelling wine from the estate." Wine Enthusiast

"This red is full of mulled plum, cherry, menthol, stone and spice flavors. Concentrated yet fluid, with a tightly packed finish. Well-balanced and approachable now if decanted." Wine Spectator

"It's easy to fall into the cult of Crichët Pajé. The wine's name means "little hill" in Piemontese dialect, and the winemaking process is carefully weighed and contemplated. The Roagna 2011 Barbaresco Crichët Pajé is fermented with indigenous yeasts, with submerged cap and sees eight long years of aging in both oak and cement. Fruit is drawn from a half-hectare, south-facing parcel high on the Pajé slope that has been farmed by this family since 1953. The bouquet reveals wild berry fruit, rose hip, cedar, crushed stone, smoke and licorice. This expression is lightweight in texture, yet it expertly balances a full load of aromas and flavors on that small frame. The heat of the vintage has not hurt the freshness or the sharpness that you perceive here." Wine Advocate

"Just bottled, the 2011 Barbaresco Crichët Pajè is unbelievably refined. Sweet red cherry, rosewater, mint, dried flowers, pine and kirsch give the 2011 an upper register of perfume that is utterly beguiling. Silky and classy to the core, the 2011 is the most sensual Crichët Pajè I can remember tasting. There is plenty of tannin, that is clear, but it is also pretty much buried by the sheer luxuriousness of the fruit. This is such a gorgeous and complete wine. There is just an unreal amount of freshness for this dry, torrid year. Wow!!" Vinous

Rabaja 2021 opens with beautiful richness, saturation and concentration. It is rich in dark fruits and bright cherries with a great textural richness, followed by sweet tannins and an attractive tight or firm structure. Salty or mineral notes add sharpness and an extra dimension to the wine. It has all the prerequisites for long ageing, and the wine definitely needs more time in the bottle. Rabaja and Asili are probably the most famous sites in Barbaresco. SUPERIORE.DE

"Rabajà has more backbone and a greater sense of richness and density. Here you get darker fruit tones than in Asili, with a very nice mineral or savoury signature. This is a beautiful vintage, characterised by concentration and clarity of fruit. I really like this expression of Rabajà, but it should be given more time in the bottle to develop." Wine Advocate

"It opens beautifully on the nose, with strawberries, cherries and some flint, terracotta, peaches and orange peel. Medium to full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are ready to go. The texture and length are very nice. You can drink it now, but it will age for decades and always convince." James Suckling

"Transparent ruby red with a crimson rim. Spicy notes of cloves, allspice, mace and pepper mingle with cherries, laurel and raspberry jelly, currant leaves and floral top notes of orange blossom complete the delight. On the palate, Crichët Pajé presents itself with great calm in a steady flow. Nothing is cheeky or exuberant here, but shines with distinguished elegance - an equilibrium in perfect balance. The aromatically exuberant nose is disciplined on the palate by the long, calm flow of the focussed, cool acidity, on whose shores fully ripe and fine-grained tannins entwine. Silky with an almost aristocratic nobility, its enormous complexity is revealed in the second sip, when the flavours begin to unfold in the epic finish like a massive Win-Zip file. A wine for today, for tomorrow and for many, many years to come. Undisputed world class." Sebastian Bordthäuser (Sommelier und Wein-Journalist)

"The 2012 Barbaresco Crichët Pajè is tight and not especially expressive today. In this vintage, the Crichët Pajè is a bit more floral and lighter in structure than it can be. Imagine Burgundy with Nebbiolo acids and tannins. Among other things, that means the 2012 will drink well with minimal cellaring, in relative terms for this bottling. Despite its reticence, the 2012 is also restrained and so nuanced. I can't wait to see how it develops in bottle." Vinous

"The 2012 Barbaresco Crichët Pajé is a beauty, and I am delighted to see that this hot and dry vintage has held up so well. These results are outstanding, as the wine continues to showcase tight berry nuances and an extra sharp level of primary fruit and general focus. This is a cult wine for collectors, and what they seek in this bottle is the deft hand of Roagna, especially when it comes to crafting a wine of important Piedmont culture and tradition. To the palate, you taste ripe cherry and dried raspberry, along with iron ore and camphor ash. This is an impressive bottle." Wine Advocate

"Camphor, truffle, wild berry and new leather are just some of the aromas you'll encounter on this riveting red. The enveloping, delicious palate shows both power and finesse, featuring dried cherry, pomegranate, star anise and tobacco framed in noble tannins. Surprisingly bright acidity for the warm vintage lends balance and even more intensity." Wine Enthusiast

Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is a fabulous, incredibly complete wine that rises from the glass with an explosive structure and vertical lift. The tannins are very present, but also beautifully matched by the aromatic intensity and overall drive of the wine. Dark macerated cherry, spice, leather, liquorice, plum and mocha add darker nuances. All elements are impeccably balanced. It is quite simply a majestic wine of true greatness and absolute class, but it is not obvious. The true essence of Nebbiolo! SUPERIORE.DE

"The vineyard is located above Costa Russi and resembles an amphitheatre. A multi-faceted bouquet of red and blue fruits, freshly picked plums paired with Mediterranean scrub and sweet spices. Very precisely woven in the mouth with compact fruit, powerful with a gripping freshness, but remains elegant in the course and final with beautiful cherry notes and a bright, radiant presence." Weinwisser

"Powerful, bright ruby-garnet colour. Very clear and memorable nose with notes of fresh cherry, crisp raspberry, blood orange and pomegranate. Fills the palate full, compact and very present, well-developed fruit, opens up with present, pithy tannins in many layers, has plenty of bite at the back, made for a long life!" Falstaff

"Rich and almost creamy in texture, this detailed red evokes aromas and flavours of cherries, strawberries, roses, iron, tobacco and sweet spices. Well defined by lively acidity, with dense tannins to support it, it is balanced and harmonious, but should benefit from two to three years of ageing. It shows great finesse and length." Wine Spectator

"The 2021 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn offers a lovely combination of red and purple berry fruit, followed by dusty tones of crushed graphite and pencil shavings. These elements enhance the beautiful freshness and vertical brightness of the Nebbiolo. The tannins of Sorì Tildìn are straightforward, fine and chalky in texture." Wine Advocate

"Subtle and complex flavours of blackberries, pine needles, bark, light spices and violets. It is really perfumed and attractive. Full-bodied and chewy, but the tannins are very, very fine. It lingers for minutes. This is a brooding, muscular wine, but it's very refined. A wine for the cellar." James Suckling

Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo 2020 is a wine for the ages, which needs 10 to 15 years in the bottle to really mature. Sorì San Lorenzo is often a great, virile wine. The 2020 has a lot of power, but at the same time you also find refinement and certain nuances that Sorì San Lorenzo has rarely, if ever, shown. Black cherry, cloves, menthol, liquorice, gravel and incense are just some of the many aromas and flavours that meld together in this dramatic and dramatically beautiful Barbaresco from the Gaja family. Sorì San Lorenzo 2020 literally explodes on the finish with an abundance of mouth watering aromas, flavours and textures. An outrageously beautiful, vibrant wine with real gravitas and power. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling ruby-garnet colour, medium density, with a light rim. Extremely fine nose with notes of roses, raspberries and some cranberries, cloves in the background. Unfolds after a somewhat hesitant attack with astonishingly full-bodied tannins, juicy raspberry fruit, spans a wide arc, full-bodied pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Elements of eucalyptus and juniper grace the cherry and raspberry fruit in this intense, complex red. Mineral and spice accents chime in as this builds to a long aftertaste. The texture is supple and there's plenty of energy on the resonant finish, where a chalky feel adds to the overall appeal." Wine Spectator

"The Sori San Lorenzo vineyard, first produced in 1967, proves itself to be the boldest and most forward of the 2020 single crus. Aromas of black cherry, macerated raspberries, incense and black tea define the nose. Mouthfilling, the wine's palate shines with preserved red berries, savory herbs, dried flowers and cedar that seamlessly coalesce around the ripe tannins and elegant finish." Wine Enthusiast

"The textural tannins are immediately obvious in this 2020, supporting delicate, fragrant and sapid dark forest fruits, overlaid with scents of dried cherry and earth. Zesty acidity delivers a long, vibrant finish of earthy succulence, displaying great tension." Decanter

"The Gaja 2020 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo has bright cherry, currant and underbrush. This wine is very pretty in the mouth, especially if you considered the silky nature of the weightless tannins. The San Lorenzo is fueled by a long finish and does not drop off on the mid-palate. It keeps going strong with red fruits, high notes and balanced acidity. The wood tannins are melted into the wine's fine texture." Wine Advocate

"The 2020 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is ample and potent, with tons of mid-palate intensity and palate-staining resonance. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, gravel and dried herbs abound. As is so often the case, Sorì San Lorenzo is the most inward." Vinous

"The aromas are like a bouquet of pink roses. So perfumed. Citrus. It also has subtle and pure aromas of strawberries, cherries and stone. Full-bodied but agile and floating on the palate with firm and chewy tannins at the end that remain balanced and fresh." James Suckling

While the Barbaresco Costa Russi expresses itself more discreetly with purity and grace, the Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo struts in the front row. It has a firmer texture and is not as timid or restrained as the Costa Russi. The Sorì San Lorenzo site is closest to the warm air currents that flow down the Tanaro river valley, and this vineyard site is always the first to ripen and be harvested. A stronger mineral note can be found here, with iron rust, pencil shavings and potting soil mingling with the primary fruit, revealing an astonishing complexity and depth. SUPERIORE.DE

"Not yet on the market at the time of tasting, but already exudes an aroma of red berries and leather, with a delicate hint of meadow flowers; excellent structure with accentuated acidity and characterful, promising tannins, the finish is complex and persistent. Put it in the cellar and wait." Vinum

"The Sorì San Lorenzo site is often the first to be harvested as it benefits from warm air currents. Wow, what a breathtaking, expressive nose, almost transcendental, incredibly profound and complex, bright red, freshly picked flowers, graphite, blossoms and fine terroir and iron notes, which are typical here. Powerful structure on the palate, the finest raspberries, minerality throughout, a super arc of tension with a bright, radiant style through to the long, vibrant final." Weinwisser

"Bright ruby colour with a broad garnet rim. Exciting nose with aromas of roses and cranberries, then lots of ripe wild raspberry, underpinned by fine spice components. Textured, very well-distributed tannins in many layers, characterises the palate, coated in fine enamel, currently similarly closed as Tildin, but has great potential that can be enjoyed for decades to come." Falstaff

"This rich, juicy version is packed with aromas and flavours of ripe cherries, raspberries, roses, graphite and menthol. The lush, supple texture is balanced by a dense line of chalky tannins that build on the finish. It shows excellent balance and length, seducing with its upfront fruit before tightening up - a taster of its potential." Wine Spectator

"This vintage delivers striking intensity that is focused and pure. Dark berry fruit is surrounded by spice, earth and licorice. The tannins are quite present in the San Lorenzo, especially in this vintage, and ideally this bottle should see many more years of bottle evolution. With so many decades of family history behind this site, San Lorenzo's excellence is an enduring symbol of the creativity and expertise of the Gaja legacy." Wine Advocate

"A rather exotic and wild Sori San Lorenzo. Even extravagant. Dried flowers and spices with bark, mushroom and dried dark cherry. Perfumed and primarily with earth. Full-bodied and juicy with fine, velvety tannins that are multi-layered and magnificent. So classic and soft on the palate with great length. Give this wine four to five years, but it will become a classic." James Suckling

In 2020, the single vineyard Asili was chosen for the Barbaresco Riserva in its characteristic red colour, which will come as no surprise to Giacosa connoisseurs. Just 10,000 bottles of what is probably the best Giacosa vineyard are only released as Riserva in outstanding years. Asili 2020 shows a seamless integration of wild fruits, blue flowers, spices, balsamic herbs and liquorice. Its true class is revealed on the palate: structure, dimension, intensity and depth leave nothing to be desired; this vintage is probably one of the best wines we have ever tasted from Bruno Giacosa. There is only one flaw with this highly dramatic growth: anyone who wants to enjoy this wine with all its facets and components should be patient for at least another 10 years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Packaged with the red label, the Bruno Giacosa 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Asili was a little shy when I tasted it, but it clearly has the runway for long cellar aging. It opens to a medium-plus texture with a darker hue of ruby red. The tannins are elegant and fine, and although this was a warm vintage, the fruit feels very fresh and taut. You get good structure and firm tannins to carry it over the long term." Wine Advocate

"Gorgeous perfumes of flowers and dark fruit with orange peel. Full-bodied with plenty of fruit and firm and integrated tannins. Thick silky texture. Fresh in the finish. It goes on for minutes." James Suckling

Crichët Pajé 2015 is one of the most captivating and striking wines anyone can discover in Piedmont. It possesses a ripe, savoury style with a fruit profile that tends towards cherry and plum compote flavours, accented by coffee, soy, tar and mineral notes, all supported by a dense layer of massive tannins. Despite the ripe fruit profile, this wine is surprisingly fresh on the finish and has excellent length. This still young wine should age for decades. SUPERIORE.DE

"Bright, sparkling ruby colour with a fine garnet sheen. Multi-layered and inviting nose, plays with notes of fresh raspberries, plums and cranberries, plus rose petals, some cold smoke and damp stones. Radiant on the palate, present, very well-developed fruit with a fine mellowness, opens up with fine-meshed tannins in many layers, terrific length, a wine that you will want to drink again and again!" Falstaff

"The Barbaresco Crichet Paje 2015 is a wine of extreme elegance and seduction. Bright red fruit, rose petals, tobacco, incense and spices give it a striking inner perfume. The 2015 is a wine of great aromatic presence and exceptional balance, which impresses above all with its balance between exoticism and classicism. Here, too, the balance is simply stunning." Vinous

"This opulent red wine offers notes of cherry, plum, rose, fresh herbs, liquorice, tar and minerals that unfold in layers of flavours and textures, leading to a long and nuanced aftertaste that lingers with a stony mineral component. It's so fresh that it's hard to believe it's already a decade old." Wine Spectator

Every year, Crichët Pajé is one of the most captivating and striking wines you will ever discover in Piedmont. It has a ripe, savoury style with a fruit profile that tends towards cherry and plum compote flavours, accented by coffee, soy, tar and mineral notes, all supported by a dense layer of massive tannins. Despite the ripe fruit profile, this wine is surprisingly fresh on the finish and has excellent length. This still young wine should age for decades. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2016 Barbaresco Crichët Pajé is of hauntingbeauty. Light-footed and deceptive in its medium body, the 2016 is still a toddler. The flavours of preserved red cherries, blood oranges, leather, sweet spices and pipe tobacco gradually unfold. The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning, captivating Barbaresco in every way, not to mention a highlight in a line of compelling wines. All it needs is time in the bottle to work off some tannin. The long, dynamic finish is breathtaking." Vinous

"The aromas are restrained, but the flavour is vibrant, with notes of soaked plums, cherries, coffee, tar, liquorice and sweet spices. This washes over the palate like cashmere and leaves a refreshing aftertaste that lingers for minutes. Impressive. Like the Escenzia to Tokaji, this wine is reduced to the essentials of the grape, the soil and the geology." Wine Spectator

"It shows a complete bouquet with compact fruit flavors of redcurrant, bright lilac and crushed stone. It remains tightly assembled with elegantly chalky tannins. Its complexity is on full display today, but more cellar aging will relax and soften the finish." Wine Advocate

In 2020, the single vineyard Asili was chosen for the Barbaresco Riserva in its characteristic red colour, which will come as no surprise to Giacosa connoisseurs. Just 10,000 bottles of what is probably the best Giacosa vineyard are only released as Riserva in outstanding years. Asili 2020 shows a seamless integration of wild fruits, blue flowers, spices, balsamic herbs and liquorice. Its true class is revealed on the palate: structure, dimension, intensity and depth leave nothing to be desired; this vintage is probably one of the best wines we have ever tasted from Bruno Giacosa. There is only one flaw with this highly dramatic growth: anyone who wants to enjoy this wine with all its facets and components should be patient for at least another 10 years. SUPERIORE.DE

"Packaged with the red label, the Bruno Giacosa 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Asili was a little shy when I tasted it, but it clearly has the runway for long cellar aging. It opens to a medium-plus texture with a darker hue of ruby red. The tannins are elegant and fine, and although this was a warm vintage, the fruit feels very fresh and taut. You get good structure and firm tannins to carry it over the long term." Wine Advocate

"Gorgeous perfumes of flowers and dark fruit with orange peel. Full-bodied with plenty of fruit and firm and integrated tannins. Thick silky texture. Fresh in the finish. It goes on for minutes." James Suckling