Gaja Barbaresco DOCG 2020
(Piedmont, Italy) 750mL - [JS 95] [DM 95] [WE 94] [VM 94] [JD 94]

About This Wine:

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 village of Barbaresco.

It is important to note the unique bottle shape created by the GAJA winery for this classic wine. The rich, powerful GAJA Barbaresco is intended for aging and thus benefits from a longer cork - and, in 1978, GAJA became the first winemaker in Piedmont to make that change. In order to accomodate the new format, GAJA redesigned the traditional Burgundian-format bottle used in Piedmont, created a hybrid bottle with a long Bordelaise neck and Burgundian bottle.

Length/Type of Fermentation: The grapes from each lot are fermented separately in stainless-steel vats for approximately 20 days, depending on the vintage. Upon completion of fermentation, the wine is racked to barriques, where malolactic fermentation takes place.

Length/Type of Aging: The grapes, coming from each single vineyard, separately undergo fermentation, maceration and ageing in oak for 12 months. Then they are blended and further age in oak for another 12 months.

Tasting Notes

The Barbaresco 2020 shows notes of strawberry, red fruit, and cherry. The palate shows great integration of the tannins, more rounded than in 2019 yet gentle and graceful. Blackberry, orange, and floral notes yield to a delicate, palate, and voluminous finish. The wines are characterized by precise and complex fruit expressions and clean and elegant aromas. They are wines that are already drinkable but will reward with time as the presence of fruit is always a guarantee of aging potential.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - James Suckling

“So many aromas of fresh rose petals as well as hibiscus tea. Medium-bodied with crunchy and flowery character with sliced strawberries and a bright finish. So appealing with lovely structure.”

95 Points - Decanter Magazine

“Depth, structure and complexity are the hallmarks of Nebbiolo, and this wine certainly delivers but also offers a juicy helping of fresh berry fruits. Barbaresco is the wine that launched the Gaja legacy in 1859. Aromatics of spiced orange peel, an assertive bouquet of dried purple florals and a touch of dried mint. The palate balances the savoury character of baking chocolate and fennel seed with an abundance of ripe red berry fruits—notes of strawberry and balsamic, raspberries and fresh mint and dried tobacco."

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast

“The wine opens with aromas of ripe cherries, warmed strawberries in sweet spices, fresh herbs and mixed flowers. The palate is lifted and vibrant with a verve that electrifies the palate as flavors of boysenberry, dried blood orange and black tea saunter about alongside well-integrated tannins.”

94 Points - Vinous Media

"The 2020 Barbaresco is a very young wine. In most years, the Gaja Barbaresco is quite showy, but the 2020 clearly needs time. There's terrific fruit intensity, but the aromatics aren't quite expressive. These days the Gaja wines have less oak imprint, which pushes the fruit forward, but also yields a wine that is a bit more austere in the early going."

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

“Spicy and pure, it is full of red berries with Asian spice and white pepper. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with elegance and refinement throughout, approachable and fine tannins, no harsh edges, and a long-lasting floral finish. This seem to be a vintage that will drink well early but have plenty of longevity as well.”