{"product_id":"gaja-gaia-rey-chardonnay-langhe-2023-piedmont-italy-vm-96","title":"Gaja Gaia \u0026 Rey Chardonnay Langhe 2023 (Piedmont, Italy) - [VM 96]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Wine:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst Chardonnay planted in Piemonte and first Italian white wined aged in barriques, Gaia \u0026amp; Rey was named by Angelo after his first daughter, Gaia, and Grandmother Clotilde Rey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWe seriously feared of reliving the drought of 2022 as from October through April we suffered a severe scarcity of water. In March the Tanaro river was dry and the hills barren. From May 1st the character of the vintage suddenly changed completely. Abundant rainfall and temperatures lower than usual in May and June led to vines greater productivity and, as a result, extended the period for full grapes maturation. July and August were hot and dry, on the 7th of July a violent hailstorm affected the region, fortunately hitting us only marginally. The weather in August was erratic, with drops in temperature, extreme heat and then storms. Despite the grape bunches being larger than usual due to the abundant rains, e summer heat caused greater concentration which balanced the proportion between the skins and the pulp. Harvest of the white grapes began on August 21st. Grapes showed high levels of malic acid and moderate sugar levels, resulting in wines with exceptional freshness and complex aromas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eOn the nose, it opens with notes of honey and hints of hemp and jute, accompanied by a calcareous base and smoky woody notes, along with a good citrus freshness. Accents of pastry cream and cedar also stand out, with well-integrated wood and a long-lasting freshness. The intensity on the nose is heightened by spices such as sandalwood and vanilla, culminating in a pleasant green and smoky finish. On the palate, the wine is fresh, full, sweet, and persistent.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cinline style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003c\/inline\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e96 Points - Vinous Media: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"scrollcontainer\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The 2023 Gaia \u0026amp; Rey is superb. In fact, it's one of the finest Gaia \u0026amp; Reys I have tasted. Vibrant and sculpted to the core, the 2023 is all class. Hints of apricot, white flowers, baked apple and chalk open with a bit of coaxing. This really fleshes out on the back end, where super-refined contours pull it all together. (Drink between 2026-2033)\" - Antonio Galloni (Oct 2025)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReticent at first, this Chardonnay needs a few moments to develop in the glass, but as it does, delicate white aromatic flowers lift from the glass, accompanied by the scent of freshly cut, perfectly ripe apples. Notes of apricot, oak spice, and a hint of lemon verbena cream lift from the glass as it opens. Elegant on the palate, the wine has body, but the vibrant acidity provides a clean and focused texture, revealing tart citrus notes of lemon zest and bitter orange that lead to a salty and textured finish. Drink Now - 2040 — Jeff Porter\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Gaja 2021 Langhe Gaia \u0026amp; Rey is a blend of Chardonnay from five hectares planted in 1979 in Treiso and five hectares in Serralunga d'Alba planted in 1989. However, the Gaja family counts on adding fruit from their new property in Alta Langa to \"bring out the high tones,\" Giovanni Gaja explains. They are waiting for the vines to get older. This wine is currently in a timid phase, although it is quite explosive in terms of mouthfeel with bright peach, citrus and hints of crushed stone. They worked hard to achieve the creaminess of the mouthfeel and have gradually moved toward 60% botte grande and 40% smaller oak vessels (with aging from 12 to 18 months). Drink 2025-2042.\" \u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e- Monica Larner (1\/30\/25)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BREAKTHRU","offers":[{"title":"750 mL","offer_id":52723471843693,"sku":null,"price":379.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/GAJA_NV_GaiaAndRey_DOP.png?v=1763072735","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/gaja-gaia-rey-chardonnay-langhe-2023-piedmont-italy-vm-96","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}