Gaja   Sperss

2003 Sperss

By Gaja

2003 Sperss from Gaja, Piedmont, Italy

The captivating allure of fine wines from Italy certainly resonates in the 2003 Sperss from Gaja. A wine that can only be described as a time capsule revealing the climatic nuances of its birth year, 2003, this Gaja-made masterpiece materially embodies the unique terroirs of Piedmont.

 

Distinct Vintage Transcends Nature's Challenge

The 2003 vintage was a hot and arduous one for many winemakers in Italy. Yet, the resilience and unquestionable expertise from the house of Gaja gave form to one of the most intriguing and hard-won triumphs of their esteemed repertoire.

Possessing an alluring darkness of character, the 2003 Sperss by Gaja is an exemplary exploration of Nero d'Alba’s capacity to express an intensity of flavor, amidst a heatwave that spread across Europe that year. The scorching conditions drove the near drought soils of Piedmont to dig deeper into their minerality.

 

A Testament To The Terroir

A bold representation of Piedmont's unique terroir, this fine Italian wine displays robust tannins married seamlessly with intense dark fruits and opulent oak accents that tell a story of both soil and season.

Ripe black cherries, truffles, and liquorous dried fig implore the senses from first to last sips, juxtaposing impressively against subtle undertones of tobacco, dark chocolate, and warm vanilla that derive from its commended time in oak barrels.

 

Investing in Italian Liquid Gold

When it comes to matters of wine investment, every dynamic nuance brings about intrigue and potential profitability. The 2003 Sperss from Gaja offers an encapsulated journey into a challenging climate-braving vintage, coupled with the quality assurance that comes from one of Italy's most revered winemakers.

Don't merely add another bottle to your collection; enrich it with the investment-grade stature of Gaja's 2003 Sperss, a fine wine that adds depth, substance and a curiously captivating tale of triumphant viticulture.

Current market price

£1,940.00

12x75cl

Highest score

93

POP score

149.23

Scores and tasting notes

93

Gaja’s 2003 Sperss is made from vineyards in Serralunga and offers better balance than the Conteisa. It is plump and juicy, with a generous core of dark fruit, tar and menthol supported by a massive, imposing structure. The wine offers notable length although there is a suggestion of heat on the finish. This powerful, brooding Sperss will require patience, even if today it gives the illusion of being a relatively accessible vintage for this wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2023. Angelo Gaja and long-time oenologist Guido Rivella produced some of the most monumental wines of their long, storied partnership in 2004. Although I admire Gaja’s wines, especially for their consistency, I rarely find them this emotionally moving and utterly profound. The stable weather and cool, tempering evenings towards the end of the growing season allowed Gaja and Rivella to harvest fairly late in 2004. I remember passing by Gaja’s Barbaresco vineyards in October of that year and seeing fruit still waiting to be picked long after most producers had already brought the fruit in. Gaja’s 2004s from Barbaresco are especially breathtaking for their clarity and precision. The wines also seem less internationally-styled than in the past. Readers fortunate enough to possess the means to acquire these wines won’t want to miss them! The 2003s from the Barolo zones of La Morra and Serralunga are also strong efforts considering the vintage. “Historically in Piedmont there has been an inverse relationship between quality and quantity. Great vintages like 1961 and 1989 were characterized by low yields,” says Gaja. “2004 is one of those rare vintages like 1964 and 1990 where quality is high even though yields were generous as well. I think 2004 is a very elegant vintage. It is much easier to achieve opulence in the wines, but finesse is always much more elusive.” Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604 8900

Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 30 October 2007

Vintage performance