Gaja and White Truffle tasting at Wine Watch Wine Bar

"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 can harvest 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.

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 one of the great older vintage wines from this producer the legendary 1971 vintage Barbaresco.   Lampasone will be making a special tasting menu to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this event is $350 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

Gaja and White Truffle Tasting at Wine Watch
Wednesday, October 4th
7pm

2004 Gaja Chardonnay Gaja & Rey

Gaja also makes one of Italy’s greatest Chardonnay’s a dead ringer for a white Burgundy in a blind tasting.  This wine can age for a decade or two in the cellar easily.

1971 Gaja Barbaresco

A great old vintage from the Piedmont! 

1982 Gaja Barbaresco San Lorenzo

This is a great vintage and an interesting comparison to show it next to the 1983 vintage.

1983 Gaja Barbaresco San Lorenzo

Not considered a great vintage from the Piedmont but this is where producers like Gaja really shine!

1985 Gaja Barbaresco

(94 Points) Most impressive. Hard to tell it apart from the single-vineyard crus because it's so massive while also offering an incredibly dense texture. Shows mineral, stone like, spicy and black currant character, while some new oak plays subtly in the background. Firm tannins on the finish. Best from 2005 through 2015. 2,000 cases made. “PM Issue: Oct 31, 1998

1989 Gaja Barolo Sperss

(97 Points) The 1989 Barolo Sperss is wonderfully complete and polished, as layers of seamless, ripe fruit emerge from its powerful frame with tons of class. The wine reveals stunning elegance and purity wrapped around a powerful core of Serralunga fruit that speaks volumes of the greatness of this terroir. The 1989 Sperss can be enjoyed today as the tannins are incredibly finessed, but it also looks to have many years of profound drinking ahead of it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

1996 Gaja Costa Russi

(93 points) The 1996 Costa Russi reminds me of how a great Zinfandel or a great red Burgundy would taste if made by Angelo Gaja. A seductive nose of black raspberries, violets, licorice, and pain grille is followed by a rich wine with pure black fruit flavors intertwined with sweet, smoky oak. Full-bodied, with ripe tannin, this internationally-styled, stunningly proportioned, big, compelling 1996 will be at its peak between 2003-2023.

As I reported in issue #124 (8-27-99), 1996 is a spectacular vintage for Angelo Gaja. There is a lot of speculation as to why he has dropped the name Barbaresco from the labels of his single-vineyard wines, but given his personality and overall commitment to quality, it can only be to improve the quality and give him some flexibility in difficult vintages to produce a wine that may or may not be 100% Nebbiolo. At least that's how I view it. Wine Advocate # 130 Aug 2000

1998 Gaja "Costa Russi" Langhe Nebbiolo

(96 points) Intense aromas of tar and dark fruits. Full and solid, with chewy tannins and mineral, blueberry and blackberry flavors. Structured, yet fruity. Give it time. Tight still. But so layered and impressive. --1998 Piedmont blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2011. (Web-2008) Wine Spectator

2007 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Costa Russi
Price: $395.00    Your Price: $347.60
Quantity in Stock: 15

(98 Points)  The 2007 Langhe Costa Russi combines richness and focus to a degree that has seldom been seen here. This insanely beautiful wine boasts a breathtaking bouquet, explosive, generous fruit and an absolutely eternal finish. Layers of dark red fruit, minerals, flowers and spices saturate every corner of the palate as this mind-blowing Costa Russi struts its stuff. This is a towering effort from Angelo Gaja. The wine should be accessible fairly early and age for decades. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2037.

Menu:
Snapper Crudo with White Truffle
White Truffles on Bone Marrow Lemon Gremolata
Gnocchi with white Truffle Creme
Veal Carpaccio with white and black Truffles along with a nest of fine herbs
White Truffle and cark chocolate covered bacon

The fee for this event is $350.00 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com