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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Angelo Gaja forever changed the world's notion of Piedmont wines when he released this historic wine for the first time in 1985 (with the 1982 vintage), made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes planted in the township of Barbaresco. According to the often told legend, Angelo Gaja's father exclaimed "darmagi!" upon learning that his son had planted Cabernet Sauvignon in vineyards previously devoted to Piedmont's traditional Nebbiolo grape. Akin to the French quel dommage, the Piedmontese expression darmagi meanswhat a pity! or what a shame!. With his characteristic respect for tradition and those who came before him, the younger Gaja decided to call this wine Darmagi, a homage to his family's legacy with an eye toward the future.
Today, fruit for this wine is sourced from 5 acres in Barbaresco, where growing conditions render structured expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon with impressive aging potential. This wine showed the international community that the terroir Piedmont could produce world-class wines using grapes other than those traditionally grown there. Today, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a favorite among the great collectors of the world.
Wine Information
Barbaresco Angelo Gaja
The veritable king of neighbouring village Barbaresco, Angelo Gaja, is a man who has undeniably done the most for the international renown of Piedmont wines. Largely due to his efforts, the world knows that Italy produces high quality and high priced wines. A colourful and ebullient personality, Gaja is a third-generation winemaker, but before his arrival, the house of Gaja was just another small-scale producer among many. Gaja recalls the early days:
–The land in Barbaresco was as good as free. My grandfather even got into buying land. My father, Giovanni Gaja, knew the terroir in Barbaresco, so he knew exactly where to buy the best plots and best grapes. First vintage of Barbaresco was produced by Giovanni Gaja, the founder, in 1859.
If knowledge of terroir is the domain of ancestors, the key to Angelo Gaja’s success is above all marketing savvy. He has studied both winemaking and business. Combined with his studies abroad, most notably in France, these paved Barbaresco’s road to world success. Gaja’s natural charisma, arrogance and the sheer volume and force of his opinions have made him
The Gaja Winery was founded by Giovanni Gaja in 1859 and has been owned and operated by four generations of the Gaja family. Giovanni Gaja was the great-grandfather of Angelo Gaja, the Winery's current owner.
Angelo Gaja took over the family business in 1970 and, as he says:
–The challenge was to maintain the basic power and depth of Nebbiolo while polishing the wines to give them richer colour, fuller fruit, better balance and a more refined style."
Vineyard soil: calcareous marls (white terrains)
Grape varieties: 100% Nebbiolo
Winemaking: fermentation with the skins occurs in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures for three weeks.
Ageing: the wine is aged in barriques for twelve months and then in large oak casks for an additional twelve months.
Via Torino 36, 12050 Barbaresco
Tel. +39 0173 635255
Fax +39 0173 635256
info@gajawines.com
Vuosikerta 2000
The new millennium inspired the pioneers of Italy’s wine revolution to set their sights on new regions. It was interesting to see how Antinori invested so heavily in Apulia, and Gaja in Tuscany's Maremma. In Italy the field has been joined by a large number of new small-scale producers, which have the capital to realise ambitious aims, with the assistance of top consultants.
The first vintage of the new millennium turned out to be a rather good one. Both in Piedmont and Tuscany, 2000 was a crop year of extreme proportions. The weather was very unpredictable, demanding a great deal of work on the plantations. The warm spring resulted in early blooms, which was followed by a fine, balmy period that boded well for a large crop. But July brought with it chilly, rainy weather. A hot and dry August neatly remedied the situation and record temperatures were posted in Piedmont. At the end of August plantations were barraged with hailstorms. The 2000 wines are softer than the 1996s and resemble the more mature vintages of 1997 and 1999. In Tuscany this vintage was a good one throughout the region.
