Gaja
Giovanni Gaja founded the winery in Barbaresco, Piedmont in 1859. Currently, in its fifth generation of unbroken familial leadership, Gaja has established itself as one of Italy's most iconic winemaking dynasties since its foundation in 1859.
The flagship wine of Italy’s most famous Piedmonte dynasty, Gaja has produced its iconic Barbaresco since its founding in 1859 by the legendary Giovanni Gaja. Over 150 years later, Angelo Gaja is the dynamic and revered winemaker at the helm of his family estate, a position he has now held for over five decades.
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Vinous (98)
The 2013 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a real head-turner. Crystalline and utterly vivid in its expression of Nebbiolo, the 2013 is all class. Stylistically, the Costa Russi is closest to the straight Barbaresco, but it has a little more mid-palate sweetness and density. Bright floral and minty notes add lift on the chiseled, expressive finish. The Costa Russi is the star of the show this year, considering it is the least pedigreed of Gaja's three single-vineyard sites. The 2013 has been stunningly beautiful on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.Inc. VAT£2,082.35 -
(6x75cl) 2014Vinous (96)
Soft contours, silky tannins and sweet, perfumed fruit are some of the signatures in the 2014 Costa Russi. As always, Costa Russi is the most polished and open-knit of these wines in its youth. Succulent fruit, hard candy and lifted, perfumed aromatics give the 2014 considerable early appeal, but I expect time in bottle will work its usual magic. Today, the 2014 is showing only the barest hint of its potential. Even in the early going, though, the Costa Russi is a totally sexy wine.Inc. VAT£2,078.75 -
James Suckling (97)
Wow. Such depth in the nose of strawberries, flowers and hints of raw meat. Crushed stones, too. Full body, fine and dusty tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Shows structure and finesse. Drink in 2020.Inc. VAT£1,964.03 -
(3x75cl) 2015James Suckling (97)
Wow. Such depth in the nose of strawberries, flowers and hints of raw meat. Crushed stones, too. Full body, fine and dusty tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Shows structure and finesse. Drink in 2020.Inc. VAT£1,382.39 -
James Suckling (97)
Wow. Such depth in the nose of strawberries, flowers and hints of raw meat. Crushed stones, too. Full body, fine and dusty tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Shows structure and finesse. Drink in 2020.Inc. VAT£2,223.58 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.Inc. VAT£1,491.18 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.Inc. VAT£1,823.15 -
James Suckling (96)
A pretty red with ripe-cherry, strawberry and floral aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and very tight with a creamy, polished palate that goes on for minutes. Very fine and polished tannins. Give this two or three years to come more together. Better after 2022.Inc. VAT£1,884.35 -
(1x150cl) 2020Inc. VAT£1,383.47 -
(1x300cl) 2020Inc. VAT£2,963.80 -
Inc. VAT£562.13 -
(3x75cl) 2020Inc. VAT£2,061.06 -
(1x300cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The 2021 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a jeweled ruby color and is bright with fresh herbs, mint, cherries, thyme, and freshly dried earth. It has good volume and ripe structure on the palate and is long and cooling, with a note of fresh lavender. It also has a great, mouthwatering mineral tone with a more linear feel, but it’s powerful at the same time, with the sanguine and ripe blood orange notes that are shared across the vintage. It needs time, but wow, is it worth snapping up!Inc. VAT£2,963.83 -
Wine Advocate (95)
You'll find more dark fruit and more freshness here than in many of the other offerings from Gaja, with a dark, deep inky appearance. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Darmagi is a 100% expression of the grape, whereas past editions saw tiny parts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The fruit comes from a 2.5-hectare vineyard planted in 1978 directly under the town of Barbaresco, setting the stage for an elegant rendition of Cabernet Sauvignon with a fresh and contained style. The wine shows a nice balance between the extraction you get from the grape skins and the rich succulence you get from the pulp inside the berries. In the 2017, you taste more of the skins, and in the 2018, Gaia Gaja comments, you taste more of the pulp. The 2016 offers both, countering each other with precision. Whole grapes are pressed very gently, and the wine is aged in oak for 18 months, with less emphasis on new oak now. In fact, only 30% of the total sees new oak, and a greater percentage of the wine goes into large oak casks instead.Inc. VAT£1,081.18 -
(6x75cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (96)
A deep purple saturated color, the 2021 Darmagi is ripe and lifted with notes of graphite and blackberries. Schedule to be bottled in July, it offers great balance of sweetness on the palate, and I like the nerve this wine carries, with a note of alpine herbs that lifts it. Revealing sweet, ripe tannins, notes of espresso, and a long finish, it will drink well 2026-2056.Inc. VAT£2,126.38 -
(1x75cl) 1997Vinous (90+)
Complex, superripe aromas of passion fruit, apricot, acacia blossom, honey, snap peas and exotic oak. Silky and expansive in the mouth; a voluminous chardonnay with impressive richness but still quite youthfully unevolved. Finishes very long and subtle, but the spicy oak element is still a bit raw. With bottle age, this should be a very strong vintage for this wine.Inc. VAT£415.45 -
(1x75cl) 2002Vinous (88)
Yellow-gold color. Tangy aromas of apricot, oran ge and nutty, vanillin oak, with a honeyed note adding complexity. The exotic orange and apricot character continues in the mouth, where lovely ripe acidity perks up the wine's fruit. Concentrated and bright but not especially fleshy or structured for this bottling.Inc. VAT£417.20 -
Vinous (94)
The 2012 Gaia & Rey is classy and elegant to the core. Melon, pear, almond and spice notes meld together in a striking, nuanced Chardonnay long on personality. The Gaja family has pulled back the richness here quite a bit in recent years, which has resulted in a much more precise style. Slight elements of Burgundian-like reduction linger on the close, but all the 2012 needs is to be opened in advance. What a striking wine this is.Inc. VAT£254.66 -
(12x37.5cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Gaia & Rey offers up a whole range of tropical and orchard fruit flavors, showing an extra kick of creaminess that is surprising given the cool vintage and the decision to fully block the malolactic fermentation. Passion fruit, pastry, spice and a kick of well-judged oak build nicely in the glass. The 2018 finishes with lovely tension and energy.Inc. VAT£1,287.12 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Gaia & Rey may be one of the finest vintages I have ever tasted of this white. Creamy, ample and expressive, the 2019 is a wonderfully, classy, polished wine. All the elements come together so effortlessly here. Bright and focused, the 2019 is fabulous and I say that as someone who is not especially fond of Italian Chardonnays.Inc. VAT£1,853.52 -
Wine Advocate (91)
The delightful 2015 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the only white wine in Angelo Gaja's line that does not complete malolactic fermentation. The bouquet is exuberant and bright with green notes of salvia, wild oregano and white pepper. Those sharper tones are followed by bright layers of tropical fruit and zesty citrus. Drying mineral notes give sharp contours to the overall effect. This wine will be released in June.Inc. VAT£724.84 -
Vinous (92)
Gaja's 2016 Alteni di Brassica is terrific. White pear, slate, crushed rocks, mint and white flowers are beautifully delineated in the glass, with bright saline notes that extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the finer recent vintages of Alteni I can remember tasting.Inc. VAT£864.04 -
Vinous (93)
The 2018 Alteni di Brassica offers a striking balance of varietal character and textural silkiness. It is perhaps a bit less assertive than the 2019 tasted alongside it (not in a bad way), but also creamier and a bit more generous. Clean mineral and white flower notes support the finish.Inc. VAT£1,656.07 -
(1x75cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Alteni di Brassica offers a striking balance of varietal character and textural silkiness. It is perhaps a bit less assertive than the 2019 tasted alongside it (not in a bad way), but also creamier and a bit more generous. Clean mineral and white flower notes support the finish.Inc. VAT£195.20 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2013 Barolo Conteisa is now officially a DOCG wine following years as a Langhe Nebbiolo or IGT wine. The first vintage was 1996 and fruit is sourced from the Cerequio cru in La Morra. This is a classic and coherent expression that is characterized by crunchy fruit flavors and sweet tannins. Fruit came into the winery at very low temperatures and saw slow fermentations. Generally speaking, the 2013 vintage is characterized by slow ripening and a long growing season (unlike 2012 that saw more concentrated heat). This is a balanced and homogenous wine with a softly caressing nature. It offers aromas of citrus, summer fruit and even a touch of watermelon pulp. This wine is usually considered the more immediate of Gaja's two new Barolo wines, yet this vintage surely needs extra time to evolve.Inc. VAT£1,124.75 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Barolo Conteisa is rich, ample and inviting. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and dried flowers lend captivating aromatic presence to the Gaja family's La Morra Barolo. Even so, the 2017 is quite closed today, which is rather unusual for a wine that is typically far more open in the early going. That's probably a good sign for the future, though. Time in the glass brings out the classic Conteisa red-toned fruit profile. More than anything else, I am so impressed with how the 2017 gets better and better with air. This is a terrific showing. Sadly, production is down by about 50% because of severe selection.Inc. VAT£1,449.58 -
Inc. VAT£730.87 -
Inc. VAT£416.44 -
Inc. VAT£407.15 -
(6x75cl) 2022Inc. VAT£525.89
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Vinous (98)
The 2013 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a real head-turner. Crystalline and utterly vivid in its expression of Nebbiolo, the 2013 is all class. Stylistically, the Costa Russi is closest to the straight Barbaresco, but it has a little more mid-palate sweetness and density. Bright floral and minty notes add lift on the chiseled, expressive finish. The Costa Russi is the star of the show this year, considering it is the least pedigreed of Gaja's three single-vineyard sites. The 2013 has been stunningly beautiful on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.In Bond£1,716.00 -
(6x75cl) 2014Vinous (96)
Soft contours, silky tannins and sweet, perfumed fruit are some of the signatures in the 2014 Costa Russi. As always, Costa Russi is the most polished and open-knit of these wines in its youth. Succulent fruit, hard candy and lifted, perfumed aromatics give the 2014 considerable early appeal, but I expect time in bottle will work its usual magic. Today, the 2014 is showing only the barest hint of its potential. Even in the early going, though, the Costa Russi is a totally sexy wine.In Bond£1,713.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Wow. Such depth in the nose of strawberries, flowers and hints of raw meat. Crushed stones, too. Full body, fine and dusty tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Shows structure and finesse. Drink in 2020.In Bond£1,626.00 -
(3x75cl) 2015James Suckling (97)
Wow. Such depth in the nose of strawberries, flowers and hints of raw meat. Crushed stones, too. Full body, fine and dusty tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Shows structure and finesse. Drink in 2020.In Bond£1,142.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Wow. Such depth in the nose of strawberries, flowers and hints of raw meat. Crushed stones, too. Full body, fine and dusty tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Shows structure and finesse. Drink in 2020.In Bond£1,833.00 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.In Bond£1,233.00 -
Vinous (98)
The 2016 Barbaresco Costa Russi is ripe, creamy and enveloping, as it so often is, and yet also preserves the super classic sense of structure that runs through all these wines. In 2016, Costa Russi has an extra touch of mid-palate sweetness that gives the wine its sense of immediacy. Succulent red cherry, rosewater, kirsch, mint and dried flowers meld together in the glass. Soft and sensual, with tons of allure, Costa Russi is another winner from Gaja. Time in the glass brings out the wine's density and tannins, both of which it has in spades.In Bond£1,500.00 -
James Suckling (96)
A pretty red with ripe-cherry, strawberry and floral aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and very tight with a creamy, polished palate that goes on for minutes. Very fine and polished tannins. Give this two or three years to come more together. Better after 2022.In Bond£1,551.00 -
(1x150cl) 2020In Bond£1,146.00 -
(1x300cl) 2020In Bond£2,457.00 -
In Bond£465.00 -
(3x75cl) 2020In Bond£1,707.22 -
(1x300cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The 2021 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a jeweled ruby color and is bright with fresh herbs, mint, cherries, thyme, and freshly dried earth. It has good volume and ripe structure on the palate and is long and cooling, with a note of fresh lavender. It also has a great, mouthwatering mineral tone with a more linear feel, but it’s powerful at the same time, with the sanguine and ripe blood orange notes that are shared across the vintage. It needs time, but wow, is it worth snapping up!In Bond£2,457.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
You'll find more dark fruit and more freshness here than in many of the other offerings from Gaja, with a dark, deep inky appearance. The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Darmagi is a 100% expression of the grape, whereas past editions saw tiny parts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The fruit comes from a 2.5-hectare vineyard planted in 1978 directly under the town of Barbaresco, setting the stage for an elegant rendition of Cabernet Sauvignon with a fresh and contained style. The wine shows a nice balance between the extraction you get from the grape skins and the rich succulence you get from the pulp inside the berries. In the 2017, you taste more of the skins, and in the 2018, Gaia Gaja comments, you taste more of the pulp. The 2016 offers both, countering each other with precision. Whole grapes are pressed very gently, and the wine is aged in oak for 18 months, with less emphasis on new oak now. In fact, only 30% of the total sees new oak, and a greater percentage of the wine goes into large oak casks instead.In Bond£881.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021Jeb Dunnuck (96)
A deep purple saturated color, the 2021 Darmagi is ripe and lifted with notes of graphite and blackberries. Schedule to be bottled in July, it offers great balance of sweetness on the palate, and I like the nerve this wine carries, with a note of alpine herbs that lifts it. Revealing sweet, ripe tannins, notes of espresso, and a long finish, it will drink well 2026-2056.In Bond£1,752.00 -
(1x75cl) 1997Vinous (90+)
Complex, superripe aromas of passion fruit, apricot, acacia blossom, honey, snap peas and exotic oak. Silky and expansive in the mouth; a voluminous chardonnay with impressive richness but still quite youthfully unevolved. Finishes very long and subtle, but the spicy oak element is still a bit raw. With bottle age, this should be a very strong vintage for this wine.In Bond£343.00 -
(1x75cl) 2002Vinous (88)
Yellow-gold color. Tangy aromas of apricot, oran ge and nutty, vanillin oak, with a honeyed note adding complexity. The exotic orange and apricot character continues in the mouth, where lovely ripe acidity perks up the wine's fruit. Concentrated and bright but not especially fleshy or structured for this bottling.In Bond£345.00 -
Vinous (94)
The 2012 Gaia & Rey is classy and elegant to the core. Melon, pear, almond and spice notes meld together in a striking, nuanced Chardonnay long on personality. The Gaja family has pulled back the richness here quite a bit in recent years, which has resulted in a much more precise style. Slight elements of Burgundian-like reduction linger on the close, but all the 2012 needs is to be opened in advance. What a striking wine this is.In Bond£209.00 -
(12x37.5cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Gaia & Rey offers up a whole range of tropical and orchard fruit flavors, showing an extra kick of creaminess that is surprising given the cool vintage and the decision to fully block the malolactic fermentation. Passion fruit, pastry, spice and a kick of well-judged oak build nicely in the glass. The 2018 finishes with lovely tension and energy.In Bond£1,054.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Gaia & Rey may be one of the finest vintages I have ever tasted of this white. Creamy, ample and expressive, the 2019 is a wonderfully, classy, polished wine. All the elements come together so effortlessly here. Bright and focused, the 2019 is fabulous and I say that as someone who is not especially fond of Italian Chardonnays.In Bond£1,526.00 -
Wine Advocate (91)
The delightful 2015 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the only white wine in Angelo Gaja's line that does not complete malolactic fermentation. The bouquet is exuberant and bright with green notes of salvia, wild oregano and white pepper. Those sharper tones are followed by bright layers of tropical fruit and zesty citrus. Drying mineral notes give sharp contours to the overall effect. This wine will be released in June.In Bond£588.00 -
Vinous (92)
Gaja's 2016 Alteni di Brassica is terrific. White pear, slate, crushed rocks, mint and white flowers are beautifully delineated in the glass, with bright saline notes that extend the mid-palate and finish effortlessly. This is one of the finer recent vintages of Alteni I can remember tasting.In Bond£704.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2018 Alteni di Brassica offers a striking balance of varietal character and textural silkiness. It is perhaps a bit less assertive than the 2019 tasted alongside it (not in a bad way), but also creamier and a bit more generous. Clean mineral and white flower notes support the finish.In Bond£1,348.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018Vinous (93)
The 2018 Alteni di Brassica offers a striking balance of varietal character and textural silkiness. It is perhaps a bit less assertive than the 2019 tasted alongside it (not in a bad way), but also creamier and a bit more generous. Clean mineral and white flower notes support the finish.In Bond£160.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2013 Barolo Conteisa is now officially a DOCG wine following years as a Langhe Nebbiolo or IGT wine. The first vintage was 1996 and fruit is sourced from the Cerequio cru in La Morra. This is a classic and coherent expression that is characterized by crunchy fruit flavors and sweet tannins. Fruit came into the winery at very low temperatures and saw slow fermentations. Generally speaking, the 2013 vintage is characterized by slow ripening and a long growing season (unlike 2012 that saw more concentrated heat). This is a balanced and homogenous wine with a softly caressing nature. It offers aromas of citrus, summer fruit and even a touch of watermelon pulp. This wine is usually considered the more immediate of Gaja's two new Barolo wines, yet this vintage surely needs extra time to evolve.In Bond£918.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2017 Barolo Conteisa is rich, ample and inviting. Sweet pipe tobacco, cedar and dried flowers lend captivating aromatic presence to the Gaja family's La Morra Barolo. Even so, the 2017 is quite closed today, which is rather unusual for a wine that is typically far more open in the early going. That's probably a good sign for the future, though. Time in the glass brings out the classic Conteisa red-toned fruit profile. More than anything else, I am so impressed with how the 2017 gets better and better with air. This is a terrific showing. Sadly, production is down by about 50% because of severe selection.In Bond£1,188.00 -
In Bond£577.00 -
In Bond£331.00 -
In Bond£320.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022In Bond£419.00

