2016 Angelo Gaja Langhe Sori Tilden - 97 pts!

Gaja is one of the best-known wine producers in all of Italy. Originating in and still based in Barbaresco, in northwest Italy, the Gaja name remains most strongly associated with Nebbiolo-based wines, though the company now makes more wine in Tuscany than Piedmont.

The business was founded in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja with just 5 acres of vineyards in Barbaresco. Each generation saw expansion, although Angelo Gaja, who took over full-time in 1970, is often credited with the estate's more recent success. He was responsible for overseeing sweeping changes in the vineyards and cellars, and introducing the famed single-vineyard Barbaresco wines Sorì San Lorenzo, Sorì Tildìn, and Costa Russi (now Langhe DOC wines). These changes were not always well-received: famously, the name of the Darmagi Cabernet Sauvignon translates as 'what a pity', referring to Angelo's father's regret over the introduction of Bordeaux varieties.

Gaja is famous for having modernized Piedmont, introducing international grape varieties and winemaking practices more common in Bordeaux or California. However, traditional elements remain, such as long macerations and the use of larger oak barrels (albeit in combination with new barriques). The estate generated a lot of attention when it began to blend a small amount of Barbera into all but two of its Barbaresco and Barolo wines, relegating them to the Langhe DOC classification. Angelo Gaja insisted this was a traditional practice to correct acidity, and at any rate, the label focused on the vineyard name, rather than the appellation.

Varietal	Nebbiolo
Vintage	2016
Rating	97 RP
Bottle Size	750 ml
Bottle Quantity	1
Country	Italy
Region	Piedmont
Location	Barolo
Producer	Gaja Angelo
Color	Red
Wine Type	Table

Robert Parker

97 RP - Here's a wonderfully spicy and opulent rendition of Nebbiolo and another very full and rich Barbaresco from Gaja. The 2016 Barbaresco Sorì Tildìn is open, more concentrated and structured. There are pretty floral notes of rose hip or wild rose in this generous wine of broad scope. We're talking about smaller fruit here, with plums, cassis, blackberry and plenty of power. Everything came to perfect maturity in this 2016 vintage, representing that rare merge of quantity and quality. This is what you get from the dense soils of the warm, south-facing Sorì Tildìn site and similar ones where the terrain can keep the moisture locked in. The 2016 growing season was also marked by sharp diurnal shifts, and rainfall was well-timed to occur when it was needed most.

Wine Spectator	95 WS - Supple and concentrated, delivering cherry, strawberry, iron, tobacco and loamy earth flavors. Gets silkier and more graceful, playing out on the long finish. Shows excellent harmony and complexity.

Burghound

Varietal	Nebbiolo
Vintage	2016
Rating	97 RP/95 WS
Bottle Size	750 ml
Bottle Quantity	1
Country	Italy
Region	Piedmont
Location	Barolo
Producer	Gaja Angelo
Color	Red
Production	175 cases

2016 Angelo Gaja Langhe Sori Tilden - 750ml