Gaja and Friends Piedmont Wine Tasting and White Truffle Dinner Saturday, November 5th 7:30pm and all the Gaja wines in the store on SALE!!
"The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age."
Lucille Ball
There is nothing that is quite as decadent as white truffles but if you are going to pair a wine with this unique culinary experience Nebbiolo would be my first, second and third choice. The Piedmont is one of the world's most unique grape growing regions and is the only area where the Nebbiolo varietal makes a high-quality age worthy wine. This is also the only part of the world where you find the white truffle. These truly unique fungi are not only very intense in flavor but also incredibly expensive pound for pound the most expensive food in the world today. This is one of the only times when it comes to food and wine where the food almost always costs more than the wine here at our "Once in a Lifetime" events at the Wine Watch.
Join us as we experience one of the rare culinary treats alongside one of the great wine producers of the Piedmont with a selection of every top wine that Angelo Gaja makes in the Piedmont along with some other great producers from epic vintages now fully mature. Chef Toni Lampasone will be making a special tasting menu to accompany the wines. The fee for this event is $795.00 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.
Gaja and Friends and White Truffle Dinner
with Special Guest Dr. Robert Maliner
Saturday, November 5th
7:30 PM
1982 Rocche De Manzoni Barolo Riserva Vigna Roul
1990 Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc
1998 Gaja Barbaresco
1998 Gaja Sori Tilden
2000 Gaja Sori Tilden
2000 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo
2000 Scavino Barolo Bric del Fiasc
2000 Pio Cesare Barolo Ornato
2000 Revello Barolo Vigna Gattera
2001 Cappellano Barolo Ofin Fiorin
2001 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo
Menu
Parmesan Reggiano and Prociutto di Parma
Egg Flan with White Truffle
Gnocci with White Truffle and Kerry Gold Butter
Osso Bucco Ravioli with White Truffle Creme Sauce
Chocolate Bark
The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $795 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservation if you do NOT like veal and Toni will be glad to make you chicken.
A bit about Gaja Winery:
He has been called a restless genius; others have been less charitable in their characterizations of Angelo Gaja (pronounced GUY-YAH). Gaja is a fourth generation winegrower from Barbaresco, one of Italy's premier wine districts in Piedmont in northern Italy. As controversial as Angelo Gaja is, nobody disputes his great talents as a winemaker or his ability to generate interest in his wines. Gaja in his relatively short career has become the highest profile grower in Piedmont as well as Italy's most famous winemaker. He has accomplished this through consummate skill at both winemaking and public relations. He describes himself as "vain"; we translate that to mean that he is not the least bit reluctant to be an unabashed publicist for his own wines. Gaja has traveled extensively throughout the world hyping the Gaja name while also trying to learn more about how he might apply new technology in order to improve his own wines. He first visited California for this purpose in 1974, and it is presumed that it was there that he became fascinated with the "barrique" concept - the idea of aging his reds in small oak barrels. He has broken new ground in many areas, and even his critics begrudgingly admit that the results speak for themselves. Gaja is now regarded as Piedmont's leading producer of Barbaresco, and his wines command prices that rival those charged anywhere in the world.
The Gaja firm has been bottling wines since the early 1900's; in 1964 a decision was made to contract the size of the Gaja winery and produce only wines from the winery's own vineyards. The fact that the Gaja winery produces only estate wines is a most salient point in the gospel according to Gaja, for he feels that the consumer is willing to pay more for "authentic Gaja". Gaja is the largest private owner of vineyards in the Barbaresco zone with 153 acres. About half the annual Gaja production of 22,000 cases is Barbaresco - the rest is split between Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Barbera, a nouveau-style Nebbiolo called Vinot, several Chardonnays, a Cabernet, and a Barolo. The Cabernet and Chardonnay have been very controversial in this part of Italy where tradition and conservative values reign supreme. To plant foreign grapes in Barbaresco was heresy to some; but Gaja defends against those charges by pointing out that in the 1890's - before phylloxera destroyed the vineyards - there were Cabernet and Chardonnay vines planted in Piedmont. Even the retired Giovanni Gaja, Angelo Gaja's father (who is now said to like the Cabernet planted in the Gaja vineyards), referred to the Cabernet plantings as "darmagi" - "such a pity." He felt that it was a pity that Cabernet - not the native Nebbiolo - was being planted in a prime vineyard site by his son. The name stuck, and Gaja's Cabernet is called Darmagi. We have tasted the Chardonnay and the Cabernet with Gaja and on several other occasions and have been impressed with their quality; their price, however, is extremely ambitious.
In 1988 Gaja purchased a Barolo vineyard in the Marenca e Rivette area of the village of Serralunga. The property was well known to Gaja, for his father often purchased fruit from this vineyard in order to produce Barolo in the 1940's and 1950's. This long standing desire to return to Barolo was reflected in the name Gaja selected for the Barolo. The name "Sperss" is an expression in Piedmontese dialect that translates to "profound longing or nostalgia" (in this case nostalgia for Barolo.) The first two releases - the 1988 and 1989 Sperss - have met extraordinary critical reception. The 1989 was selected as the number two wine in the TOP 100 wines of 1993 and scored a (96) in The Wine Spectator!
Gaja has made his name with Barbaresco. Both Barbaresco and Barolo are produced from the Nebbiolo grape within a few miles of each other in Piedmont. Gaja ages his Barbaresco in small new oak barrels, and he manages to produce a wine that takes on a certain subtlety and suppleness without losing the personality of the Nebbiolo grape. One way Gaja manages to do this is by steam cleaning the inside of his brand new oak barrels in order to remove some of the oak extract they might otherwise impart to the new wine - a rather shocking technique that works! His Barbarescos have a unique personality for other reasons as well. He picks his grapes late for more extract and color, but he also strives to produce a harmonious wine with more aroma and flavor and less tannin. These and many other factors are what make Gaja Barbarescos unique and sought out by connoisseurs all over the world. In addition to Gaja's regular Barbaresco, he bottles three "crus" - but only in great years. His single vineyard Barbarescos - "Sorì San Lorenzo", "Sorì Tildìn", and "Costa Russi" - are quite possibly the best produced in Italy and among the world's noblest red wines. Over the past decade Angelo Gaja has really excelled with his Barbaresco - producing fabulous world-class wines in vintages such as 1982, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and this 2001. The Piedmont has seen an unprecedented string of outstanding vintage from 1996-2001. All three of Gaja's single cru Barbarescos rated a (95) or better in The Wine Spectator; in both 1996 & 1997 and in 1998 two of the three rated (95) or better, an incredible track record for the last three releases. Generally of the three crus produced by Gaja, the Sorì San Lorenzo is the slowest maturing, the longest-lived, and the least approachable in its youth. The Costa Russi is the most approachable when young, while the Sorì Tildìn falls between the two.
In The Gambero Rosso (the Italian wine Bible) Gaja is the only producer in the Piedmont with a rating of "Two Stars", indicating the number of times his wines have received the coveted "Three Glass" award. Gaja's wines have received twenty-one (a star for every ten "Three Glass" wine). They call Gaja "Here we are in the presence of what is undoubtedly the best Italian winery, to judge from the quality of its wines; colleagues and wine critics from all over the world admit as much."
ALL the Gaja wines that we have available in the store:
2020 GAJA CA'MARCANDA VISTAMARE
Price: $58.75 Your Price: $51.70
Generous bouquet of peach, apricot, sage and marine notes revealing a fresh, rounded and lingering taste in the mouth. The freshness and herbaceous notes of Vermentino combine with the remarkable complexity and roundess of Viognier.
The playful name of this wine was inspired by the sea breeze, sun, and cheerful, lighthearted outlook of the Tuscan coast. "Vistamare" means sea view and is often used by the coastal hoteliers to entice would-be guests, even though their rooms may only offer a limited view of the Mediterranean. The vineyards used for Vistamare actually enjoy a panoramic view of the Tuscan horizon and their grapes are gently touched by salty air and the brilliant colors of the the Tuscan sea.
2019 GAJA ALTENI DI BRASSICA SAUVIGNON BLANC LANGHE
Price: $157.75 Your Price: $138.82
2020 GAJA ALTENI DI BRASSICA SAUVIGNON BLANC LANGHE
Price: $185.50 Your Price: $163.24
Alteni di Brassica combines the classic herbaceous and aromatic qualities of the grape variety with the elegance and refinement of the GAJA style. Pheasants are featured on Alteni di Brassica's label to commemorate the beautiful birds that inhabit the forests adjacent to GAJA's vineyards. The color is golden and the wine opens with intense spicy notes of sage, white pepper and sweet licorice. Then, it evolves into its fruitier character with ripe notes of citron, lemon peel, grapefruit, pear and nectarine.
2020 GAJA ROSSJ BASS CHARDONNAY LANGHE
Price: $97.50 Your Price: $85.80 Quantity in Stock: 3
2018 GAJA CHARDONNAY ROSSJ BASS LANGHE
Price: $97.50 Your Price: $85.80
Golden in color, the nose opens with a floral character (jasmine and daisies), followed by fresh notes of green almond, sage, thyme and green tea leaves. On the entry, the wine is luscious, with juicy notes of nectarine, pear, mango and pineapple. The bright acidity refreshes the palate, finishing with mineral and balsamic notes of flint, mint and fern.
2020 GAJA CHARDONNAY GAIA AND REY LANGHE
Price: $352.50 Your Price: $310.20
The winery's historic Gaia & Rey Chardonnay is a wine that not only reshaped the legacy of the house itself, but also redefined Piedmont as one of the truly great winemaking regions of the world. Named after Lucia and Angelo Gaja's daughter, Gaia Gaja, and Angelo Gaja's grandmother Clotilde Rey (the family's great matriarch and one of its most forward-thinking visionaries), Gaia & Rey was first bottled in 1983 and released the following year.
With this historic bottling, Angelo Gaja showed the world that exceptional white wines could be produced in the Langhe Hills, where red wines had been produced almost exclusively before. He also delivered to the world what is now considered one of the greatest white wines of Europe, a truly remarkable accomplishment in a country where red grapes have historically dominated the realm of fine wine.
2017 GAJA SITO MARESCO MAGNUM
Price: $172.50 Your Price: $151.80
2018 GAJA SITO MORESCO
Price: $58.75 Your Price: $51.70
Angelo Gaja is known for producing elegant, opulent wines that are true to their origins. He is a pioneer in the production of single-vineyard wines in Piedmont. Several estate-owned vineyards provide the grapes for Sito Moresco, among which is the twenty-five-acre Sito Moresco vineyard in Barbaresco. The name means "Moresco's site" and refers to the former owner of this vineyard Sito Moresco combines complexity and longevity with refinement and accessibility. Ruby red in color, this wine offers a pure nose with aromas of small fruits. On the palate, it is elegant and balanced with fine tannins and a fresh finish.
2019 GAJA BARBARESCO MAGNUM
Price: $769.50 Your Price: $677.16
2019 GAJA BARBARESCO
Price: $342.25 Your Price: $301.18
The centerpiece of the portfolio, GAJA Barbaresco is a testament to the Gaja family's historic commitment to the appellation and its belief that Barbaresco stands proudly with the great growing regions of the world. The GAJA winery stopped sourcing fruit from other growers in 1961 in order to ensure the utmost quality in its wines. In all, GAJA Barbaresco is produced using grapes grown in 14 vineyards in the villages of Barbaresco and Treiso.
2018 GAJA BARBARESCO MAGNUM
Price: $695.25 Your Price: $611.82
(94 Points) The Gaja 2018 Barbaresco is a wine of grace and purpose, with an elegant bouquet and a more powerful palate presence. These recent releases from the venerated house of Gaja are some of the most transparent and honest expressions to be found anywhere in the Langa. Some of the flashiness we saw in the past is today replaced by subtle Nebbiolo nuances and finesse, with crushed flowers, coriander, wild berry, smoke, tar and candied orange peel. This shift in character runs parallel to the slow and careful management transition from an older generation to a younger one. This 2018 vintage comes alive in the mouth, thanks to its balanced acidity and the absolutely bright and pristine quality of fruit delivered with such care. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2017 GAJA BARBARESCO SORI SAN LORENZO MAGNUM
Price: $1680.00 Your Price: $1478.40
2017 GAJA BARBARESCO SORI SAN LORENZO
Price: $703.00 Your Price: $618.64
(95 Points) The 2017 growing season saw a couple of violent hail events in the Barbaresco appellation, and this celebrated vineyard suffered some damage during a storm that hit on July 19th. Yields were reduced, but the wine holds its own thanks to the careful fruit selection process put in place by the Gaja family. Their 2017 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is a shade richer in terms of flavor concentration, as is always the case with fruit from this slightly warmer growing site. However, like the other two single-vineyard Barbaresco expressions, this wine reveals a thin, sharp and nervous personality that is driven in large part by tannic firmness and acidity. Sorì San Lorenzo adds lots of dark mineral definition to cassis, wild cherry, rose and Provence herbs. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
1999 GAJA SORI SAN LORENZO
Price: $595.00 Your Price: $523.60 Quantity in Stock: 1
2017 GAJA BARBARESCO COSTA RUSSI
Price: $703.00 Your Price: $618.64
(95 Points) In terms of production numbers, this is one of the smallest vintages we've seen from the Costa Russi vineyard. Thanks to replanting efforts, about half of the old vines were ripped out in 2017 (compared to the 2016 vintage that made 10,000 bottles with the whole vineyard in production). The Gaja 2017 Barbaresco Costa Russi offers a warmer and softer character compared to Sorì San Lorenzo and Sorì Tildìn. Overall, the wine is richer and more textured. I definitely taste the vintage heat with its slightly sweeter and more accessible tones of cherry, cassis and fragrant blue flower. Costa Russi is usually defined by lifted notes of aniseed and sambuco, and you get those here too, although they are a less pronounced in this vintage. This is a balanced and carefully assembled Barbaresco with a lean approach backed by fine tannins and bright acidity. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2016 GAJA COSTA RUSSI
Price: $750.00 Your Price: $660.00
(96 Points) The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a very botanical wine in terms of its aromas, with lovely perfumes of rose, elderflower, sambuco and anise seed, along with a touch of glycerine. It then follows up with some sweetness that feels very embracing in this wine. This is the more ephemeral, delicate and floral member of the extended Barbaresco family from Gaja, with a crunchy tannic bite, but nothing too severe. There is a really good vitality and energy to this very expressive wine. Costa Russi remains the smallest of Gaja's single-vineyard wines, and Gaia Gaja warns that there will be considerably less of it starting with the 2017 vintage. Production for this wine had always varied greatly to begin with, due in part to the fragile nature of the 80-year-old vines, but about half of those were removed and replanted. It will be a while before the new vines are old enough to go online. So, with some 10,000 bottles made in 2016 and 6,000 bottles in 2015, we can count on those numbers to be split by half over the next three to four years, for sure. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2000 GAJA COSTA RUSSI
Price: $650.00 Your Price: $572.00 Quantity in Stock: 1
(100 Points) Fabulous aromas of rose petals and cherries with hints of raspberries. Full-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and an incredible finish. This is so fine and so long. A real beauty that grows and grows on the palate. Great Nebbiolo. Greatest Costa Russi ever, from 34-year-old vines. Best after 2010. 890 cases made. â€"JS Wine Spectator Issue: Jul 31, 2004
2017 GAJA BARBARESCO SORI TILDIN
Price: $703.00 Your Price: $618.64
2017 GAJA BARBARESCO SORI TILDIN MAGNUM
Price: $1730.50 Your Price: $1522.84
(94 Points) The Gaja 2017 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn opens to a luminous ruby appearance with pretty crimson highlights. This vintage appears lighter in color and concentration compared to past editions. The bouquet delivers a purity and sharpness nonetheless, but it offers less overall fruit. It shows subtle berry tones with blue flower, aniseed and candied orange peel. This very young Sorì Tildìn takes time to open, and it remains on the nervous side even after it has been given ample time in the glass. The best course of action is to wait until the 10-year mark before opening this bottle. It needs that extra time to soften and flesh out. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2016 GAJA SORI TILDIN
Price: $772.50 Your Price: $679.80
2015 GAJA SORI TILDIN
Price: $660.50 Your Price: $581.24
2018 GAJA DAGROMIS BAROLO
Price: $103.75 Your Price: $91.30
Intense red. This wine is already showing more intense and fruit-forward aromas than in past years. Very fresh notes of blood orange, bitter orange, tangerine and dark red fruits are intermingled with fresh earth, anise seed and herb. The palate is fresh and juicy, with a mouth-filling texture and firm but balanced tannins and acidity. Attractive richness showing red-tone fruits, berry, pomegranate, wild strawberry combine with vibrant acidity in a mid-weight, sleek style.
2017 GAJA CONTEISA LANGHE NEBBIOLO MAGNUM
Price: $835.00 Your Price: $734.80
2017 GAJA CONTEISA LANGHE NEBBIOLO
Price: $361.50 Your Price: $318.12
(95 Points) The Gaja 2017 Barolo Conteisa opes to an immediate sense of dimension and textural width that distinguishes this hot growing season. In this case, that additional volume and power are expertly contained and refined in this wine with fruit from the Cerequio vineyard of Barolo. Cerequio saw hail damage in 2016 and was more fortunate this year; however, the site generally remains quite protected from extreme weather conditions (compared to its adjacent vineyards). This wine excels most noticeably in terms of mouthfeel. The finish is silky and long and those more astringent 2017 tannins are gracefully absent here. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2017 GAJA SPERSS LANGHE MAGNUM
Price: $891.50 Your Price: $784.52
2017 GAJA SPERSS LANGHE
Price: $386.25 Your Price: $339.90
(96 Points) Following so quickly after the celestial 2016 vintage, this Gaja 2017 Barolo Sperss shows muscle and brawn; however, the Conteisa holds its own in terms of aromatic complexity. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, that added concentration and determination are expected, especially in a hot and dry vintage such as 2017. Here you get dark cherry fruit with cassis and wild plum. There are also floral aromas that veer toward red rose more than they do violets or blue flowers. And, of course, you get some of those iron-rich or mineral notes of rusty nail or iron that are often associated with Sperss. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2014 GAJA SPERSS LANGHE
Price: $322.50 Your Price: $283.80 Quantity in Stock: 1
(94 Points) This is a slightly more subdued vintage of this legendary wine, albeit just as sophisticated as past editions. The 2014 Barolo Sperss opens to gorgeous aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and white truffle. The vineyards in Serralunga d'Alba produced much less fruit than average and suffered from bouts of downy mildew during the rainy seasons. But Serralunga d'Alba fruit is also harvested late, and that extra time was important for achieving grape ripeness targets. The wine presents depth and complexity within the context of a thinner vintage. Having said that, the bouquet is spectacular. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2018 GAJA CABERNET SAUVIGNON DARMAGI PIEDMONT
Price: $315.00 Your Price: $277.20
2018 GAJA CABERNET SAUVIGNON DARMAGI PIEDMONT MAGNUM
Price: $732.00 Your Price: $644.16
2017 GAJA CABERNET SAUVIGNON DARMAGI PIEDMONT
Price: $257.25 Your Price: $226.38
2010 GAJA DARMAGI CABERNET SAUVIGNON PIEDMONT
Price: $375.00 Your Price: $330.00
In the Piedmont dialect "Darmagi" means "What a Shame" which is what Angelo Gaja's father said to him when he found out that Angelo had pulled up a prestigious Nebbiolo vineyard to plant Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is one of the best Cabernet Sauvignon's made in Italy and one of the hardest to find in the marketplace.
2017 PIEVE DI SANTA RESTITUTA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO MAGNUM
Price: $270.50 Your Price: $238.04
2017 PIEVE DI SANTA RESTITUTA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Price: $88.25 Your Price: $77.66
2016 PIEVE DI SANTA RESTITUTA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Price: $88.25 Your Price: $77.66 Quantity in Stock: 1
2014 PIEVE DI SANTA RESTITUTA BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO
Price: $100.50 Your Price: $88.44
With the 2005 vintage, for the first time in history, the GAJA family decided to produce a classic Brunello without single vineyard designation, blended from all 40 acres the family has planted throughout the entire region. Pieve Santa Restituta's Brunello di Montalcino is now produced from a selection of estate-grown grapes from throughout the winery's four non-contiguous vineyards as well as 25 acres of southwest facing vineyards in Torrenieri, in northeastern Montalcino, acquired in 2006.
2020 GAJA CA MARCANDA PROMIS BOLGHERI
Price: $52.75 Your Price: $46.42
The proprietary name Promis (pronounced proh-MEESS) was created by the Gaja family to denote commitment, expectation, fulfillment, and hope. The promise of quality and the reward of diligence and excellence. The grapes are grown in Bolgheri and in the neighboring area of Bibbona planted on the terre brune (rich, dark soils) which consist primarily of lime and clay. The climate - hot summer days, freshened by brisk sea air and cool nights - is ideal for the grapes grown here. A blend of Merlot, Syrah and Sangiovese.
2020 GAJA CA MARCANDA MAGARI TOSCANA IGT
Price: $85.75 Your Price: $75.46
2019 GAJA CA MARCANDA MAGARI MAGNUM
Price: $191.75 Your Price: $168.74
The Gaja Ca'Marcanda Magari is a glowing intense color. The nose is polished, refined, focused and expressive, notes of eucalyptus, herbs and pine. Fine-grained tannins surround a sleek core of black cherry, blackberry and licorice flavors, with fresh nuances gliding through a long-lasting and expressive finish.
Blend: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
2019 GAJA CA MARCANDA CAMARCANDA BOLGHERI
Price: $231.75 Your Price: $203.94
With respect to the previous vintage, the higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the Camarcanda leads to a precise and straightforward character. The nose opens with earthy and balsamic notes of violet, roots, bark and sap. The palate is rich, with concentrated and crunchy notes of blackberry, blueberry, licorice, flint and red orange. The finish is savory, almost meaty, with a precise note of iron that lingers in the aftertaste. Fine–grained tannins, embraced by a mellow body of strong personality. The backbone of this wine is the firm structure perfectly balanced by the fruit concentration. Remarkable ageing potential.
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
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