[Video] Tasting Interview: Gaja

In September 2020 James did a tasting over Zoom with Gaia and Giovanni Gaja, fifth-generation owners of Gaja. They discussed Barolo, Barbaresco and Brunello in 2015, 2016 and 2017, while tasting a selection of their wines. James was impressed with the wines. Two top bottles led the pack, the Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2017 and the Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello Di Montalcino Rennina 2015. 

Gaja’s delivery of these top-rated wines from different regions is a convincing reminder of their winemaking credentials. The Gaja Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo 2017 points to the quality of the newly-released 2017 vintage in Barbaresco, with such attractive aromas of fresh rose petals, strawberries and citrus. The Gaja family’s Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 2015 joins an esteemed list of great 2015 vintage Brunello wines. This is a powerful and fully articulated Brunello which is “extremely perfumed … full-bodied, extremely tight and refined with superb tannin quality that shows polish, finesse and beauty.” James declared this a landmark, the “best wine ever from here.” 

They also tasted a string of other highly-rated Barbaresco, Barolo and Brunello wines. The Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn 2017 is a standout and is “extremely perfumed with strawberries, flowers, cherries and hints of ash and tar.” The 2017 Gaja Barbaresco had “glorious aromas of flowers, crushed berries, strawberries and dried herbs” said James, and “a wonderfully curated, polished tannin structure and backbone.”

From Barolo, the Gaja Sperss 2016 is “very floral and refined with dried cherry, strawberry, smoke and spice." The intensity and focus of this wine is a hallmark of Barolo 2016. Meanwhile, from Brunello, the Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 2015 is a “fantastically structured, serious 2015 Brunello," James said.

Gaia and Giovanni said they are happy with their current harvest, and during the call they discussed the differences and similarities between the 2015 and 2016 with James. They also talked about their renewed focus on boosting biodiversity and sustainability, and more.

Watch the video to hear the more of the conversation and see what they thought of the wines.

Below are the wines that were tasted during the call. Click the links to see the tasting notes and scores (subscribers only).