Tasting Notes
JancisRobinson.com 18.0
The first vintage of this famously heretical wine named after Giovanni Gaja’s reaction to the news that the foreign Cabernet Sauvignon was to be planted on 2.5 ha surrounded by Nebbiolo in Barbaresco, darmagi being local dialect for ‘what a shame’. ‘My father never really became a fan of Cabernet Sauvignon,’ Angelo told us. ‘He just wasn’t interested. He liked very old Barbaresco.’ Gaia says that the wine still has some Nebbiolo characteristics because of where it grows. Just 600-800 cases made each year. Beautiful mature ruby shading right to the rim and a wonderfully sumptuous plummy, cedary bouquet of which many a Medocain would be jealous. Very gentle and sweet but with marvellous freshness too. Hints of liquorice. Lovely.
Anticipated maturity: 2002-2012
