Gaja Barbaresco 'Sori San Lorenzo' 2017

The 2017 Gaja Sori San Lorenzo is deep purple in appearance. The nose introduces itself as a fruit basket loaded with black cherry, blackberry, raspberry and wild strawberries showing aromas that are beautifully harmonious, with freshness provided by mint and liquorice notes. The palate displays hints of sweet tobacco, loamy earth and minerals line the finish, giving this wine fascinating range and length. Initially forceful, the tannins become ripe and velvety. This wine has magisterial persistence and definition.

99 Points - James Suckling     The aromas of fresh rose petals are amazing with strawberries and citrus underneath. Full-bodied and layered with a complete, very linear and long finish. It turns tight and very serious at the end. Please give this at least five years to show it’s potential.

96 Points - Wine Spectator     This tightly wound red is dense with black cherry, black currant, plum, tar and iron flavors as well as tannins. Shows a lot of power and persistence, with all the components in the right proportion, ending with a long, resonant aftertaste. Needs time. Best from 2024 through 2048.

95+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate     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 flavour 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.