2007 Barbaresco DOCG
By Gaja
2007 Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja, Piedmont, Italy
Wrapped in an intriguing blanket of gentle power and inviting elegance, the 2007 Barbaresco DOCG produced by Gaja clearly epitomises the rich allure of Italian winemaking prowess. A wine that immediately builds anticipation and raises the pulse of any fine wine investor who understands how vintages from this iconic producer consistently appreciate in value.
The Majestic Masterstroke of 2007's Generous Weather
Turning our gaze towards the 2007 weather pattern in the Piedmont region, those familiar with its topography will know that weather greatly influences the charm and character of its wines, particularly with a label as illustrious as Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja. The year 2007 graced Piedmont with a warm, dry summer that swiftly followed a mild winter, setting perfect stage for ample grape ripening.
This fortuitous alignment of climate conditions led to an earlier harvest, endowing the grapes with an exceptional balance of sugar and acidity – a key characteristic that elegantly shines through in every sip of this complex Barbaresco.
A Performance Of Balance and Elegance
Every pour of this 2007 vintage Barbaresco releases delicate whispers of ripe cherries, dried roses, truffles - these blend seamlessly into refined notes of licorice and sweet spices that tirelessly dance across the tongue. Its tannic structure is sturdy yet silken – a testament to Gaja's exceptional vineyard management and artful winemaking technique.
Fine wines from Italy frequently beckon investment interests due to their wide ageability range and delectable quality; this one stakes its claim confidently amongst those ranks. It’s often said that wine embodies time encapsulated, and each glass of the 2007 Barbaresco DOCG from Gaja speaks eloquently of a generously bountiful year, channeled through each meticulously cultivated nebbiolo grape.
Overall, this is an impeccable example of how a harmonious blend of favourable weather, masterful winemaking, and respectful homage to terroir can produce a wine that stands tall as one of the most coveted investments to add to your fine wine portfolio.
Current market price
$4,090.00
12x75cl
Highest score
94
POP score
175.71
Scores and tasting notes
All readers need to do is taste the 2007 Barbaresco to get a sense of the promise the vintage holds at Gaja. Soft and seamless on the palate, the Barbaresco shows wonderful integrity in its fruit in an opulent, yet mid-weight style. Fragrant, perfumed aromatics are woven throughout, while an attractive spiciness develops in the glass. There is incredible depth to the fruit and simply phenomenal overall balance. Readers will not want to miss this Barbaresco; arguably Gaja’s finest since 1997. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2032. My most recent visit to Gaja was quite an experience, as I tasted all of the estate’s 1989s, 1990s and 2007s. The 1989s and 1990s are reviewed in this issue’s What About Now feature. Angelo Gaja, always loquacious on a wide range of subjects, says virtually nothing about his wines, an approach I have increasingly come to appreciate in an era where so many producers are constantly in pitch mode. Then again, Gaja doesn’t really need to say anything, the wines speak for themselves. I tasted the 2007s at the winery in November 2009 and then again in New York in January 2010. Both times they were spectacular. Stylistically the 2007s remind me of the 1997s in terms of their opulence. Gaja’s wines are often immensely appealing when young – which is certainly the case with the 2007s – but then close down in bottle for a number of years, sometimes many years. My impression is that the Costa Russi and Conteisa are the most likely of these 2007s to offer the widest drinking windows throughout their lives with a minimum of cellaring. Fermentation and malolactic fermentation take place in steel. The wines then spend approximately one year in French oak and a second year in cask prior to being bottled. As has been the case for a number of years now, Gaja’s Langhe wines incorporate a small percentage of Barbera. On a final note, it’s great to see Gaja’s daughters Gaia and Rossana increasingly involved in the winery. They, and their younger brother Giovanni, have big shoes to fill, but couldn’t have asked for better teachers than Angelo and Lucia Gaja. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604 8900
Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 26 February 2010