Gaja   Barbaresco DOCG

2016 Barbaresco DOCG

By Gaja

2016 Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja

From the heartland of Italian wine artistry springs forth a remarkable embodiment of elegance and strength, the 2016 Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja. Known for their audacious crafting of fine wines from Italy, Gaja Proprietary Estate perfectly encapsulates the resilience and beauty native to Piemonte's renowned terroirs.

 

A vintage year with fortuitous elements

Climate plays an instrumental hand in shaping the distinct character of a vintage, and the 2016 growing season in Piemonte held such fortune. The profuse summer rains, enough to arouse concerns, were beautifully counterbalanced with a warm, sunshine-infused autumn thus ensuring a near-perfect maturation.

 

Responsive nuances with appreciable vitality

Never treading lightly in terms of expressing its unique character, the 2016 Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja makes for a tantalising performance on the palate. It reveals itself in synchronised layers of ripe cherry undertones complemented by an opulent aromatic profile projecting floral euphoria stitched with refined hints of mint and sage. A delight to behold, its structured tannic shape carries the essence of Nebbiolo with commendable precision, held together by persistent acidity.

 

An oenological masterpiece worth consideration

This vintage painting fulsome flavours presents an excellent case for your wine investment portfolio. The compelling journey it offers from volatile weather conditions to the resultant obstinate buoyancy mirrors almost metaphorically the tumultuous dynamics of wine investments. This liberal interpretation notwithstanding, its long age-worthiness contributes tangibly to its stature as an investable prospect.

Highlights include the tenacity derived from its climatic odyssey merged with the classic character of traditional Nebbiolo. The harmony of such elements within the 2016 Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja orchestrates an intriguing narrative within each sip, deepening over time. This confluence of responsibility to its roots, interactive palette dynamics and a remarkable ageing potential assuredly distinguishes this vintage from its siblings, paving its path as an enduring mark in the annals of Italian winemaking.

Allow this piece of substantial cellar history to impress upon your collector insight, perhaps inspiring future promising ventures down the vine-kissed valleys of Italian viticulture.

Market price (GBP)

£1,700.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

106.25

Scores and tasting notes

96

I tasted this wine over two sittings, one at the winery and one at my home office a few weeks later. Although I can't claim any extraordinary differences between the two sessions, I noticed a few minimal shifts that are essential to understanding the wine's future aging ability. The 2016 Barbaresco starts off slow at first, showing a small margin of aromatic evolution in the glass. But come back two hours later, and you can almost hear the soft sounds of the symphony playing just below the surface. The 2016 vintage is characterized by the solid intensity and firmness of its aromas, which transcend fruit and veer toward balsamic herb, licorice, tar and smoke instead. The tannins offer a moment of sweetness and softness, before you are aware of their undeniable firmness. In all, there is a certain glossiness or satiny quality to the mouthfeel that underlines the wine's carefully crafted integration. I would describe this as a classic and also a somewhat austere Barbaresco that fully deserves extra cellar time to stretch those tight muscles and grow in volume. This wine will award those who wait.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2019

Vintage performance