Name: Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2017 750ml
Brand: Gaja
SKU: 887335
Price: 416.45 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 95.5 (6 reviews)

Winery Gaja

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Varietal Nebbiolo

The Nebbiolo grape varietal is widely understood to be the fruit responsible for Italy's finest aged wines. However, its popularity and reliability as a grape which gives out outstanding flavors and aromas has led it to be planted in many countries around the world, with much success. These purple grapes are distinguishable by the fact that they take on a milky dust as they begin to reach maturity, leading many to claim that this is the reason for their unusual name, which means 'fog' in Italian. Nebbiolo grapes produce wines which have a wide range of beautiful and fascinating flavors, the most common of which are rich, dark and complex, such as violet, truffle, tobacco and prunes. They are generally aged for many years to balance out their characteristics, as their natural tannin levels tend to be very high.

Country Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.

Region Piedmont

Situated in the north-western part of Italy, the region of Piedmont is known worldwide and is highly respected for the quality of the wines produced there. Many of the most successful sub-regions in Piedmont produce many of the world's finest red wines, such as those made from the excellent Nebbiolo grape varietal in areas such as Barolo and Barbaresco. However, the historic wineries which typify this region use a relatively wide variety of grapes, including Dolcetto and Barbera for their red wines, which are typically aged and have a delightful velvety character. Piedmont isn't all about beautifully complex red wines, though, as it is also famed for high quality, elegant sparkling wines, notably the Asti wines made with the white Moscato grape. The region benefits from a range of terroirs which are often well expressed in the sparkling wines, and a wonderfully consistent climate ideal for vineyard cultivation.

Appellation Barbaresco

Barbaresco, a jewel within Italy’s Piedmont region, is an illustrious wine appellation celebrated for its exceptional Nebbiolo wines. Nestled alongside the Tanaro River, its unique terroir, characterized by marl and calcareous soils, imparts a distinct finesse to the grapes. What sets Barbaresco apart is the Nebbiolo grape’s expression—marked by elegant tannins and a captivating balance between power and grace. The region’s temperate climate and significant diurnal temperature variation enhance the grape’s aromatic complexity. Barbaresco wines, with their notes of red berries, roses, and earth, offer a refined alternative to the robust Barolo. Recognized for their approachability in youth yet capable of impressive aging, Barbaresco exemplifies the artistry of Piedmontese winemaking, inviting enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of flavors and the inherent elegance of Nebbiolo.

JS 99pts

James Suckling

The aromas of fresh rose petals are amazing with strawberries and citrus underneath. Full-bodied and layered with a complete, very linear and long finish. It turns tight and very serious at the end. Please give this at least five years to show it’s potential. Better after 2025.

WS 96pts

Wine Spectator

This tightly wound red is dense with black cherry, black currant, plum, tar and iron flavors as well as tannins. Shows a lot of power and persistence, with all the components in the right proportion, ending with a long, resonant aftertaste. Needs time. Best from 2024 through 2048. 300 cases imported.

WA 95pts

Wine Advocate

The 2017 growing season saw a couple of violent hail events in the Barbaresco appellation, and this celebrated vineyard suffered some damage during a storm that hit on July 19th. Yields were reduced, but the wine holds its own thanks to the careful fruit selection process put in place by the Gaja family. Their 2017 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is a shade richer in terms of flavor concentration, as is always the case with fruit from this slightly warmer growing site. However, like the other two single-vineyard Barbaresco expressions, this wine reveals a thin, sharp and nervous personality that is driven in large part by tannic firmness and acidity. Sorì San Lorenzo adds lots of dark mineral definition to cassis, wild cherry, rose and Provence herbs. Like the other wines, it needs extra cellar aging time.

DC 95pts

Decanter

This is generally the most austere of the three Gaja single-vineyard wines, and it has also been described as 'wilder'. In this vintage the nose does seem to have more weight than Sori Tildin, with rich raspberry and cherry aromas. It's sumptuous, full-bodied and concentrated, with considerable density and weight. Despite its youthful chewiness, it's still polished and balanced, with a very long finish.

JD 95pts

Jeb Dunnuck

Also light ruby hued (all of the 2017s are on the lighter hued side), the 2017 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo comes from a warmer terroir and was brought up in barrel. It has beautiful red fruits as well as complex notes of spring flowers, spice, and menthol. Playing in the elegant, seamless end of the spectrum, with impressive tannins, it has slightly more concentration compared to the Sori Tilden (which is normal for this cuvée) yet it still shows the more streamlined, elegant style shared by all the 2017s from Gaja. This beautiful, nuanced, complex Barbaresco needs 5-6 years of bottle age and will keep for 20+ years.

VM 93pts

Vinous Media

The 2017 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo shows its typical darkness and brooding character, but it is a bit light in body and structure. Time in the glass brigs out some of the wine's natural breadth, but the 2017 is decidedly on the lighter side, as all these wines are. Dark plum, spice, smoke, licorice and tar begin to emerge, but they only do it with reluctance. The Sori San Lorenzo signatures are present, and yet they aren't fully expressed.

Winery Notes

Vintages of this wine between 1996 and 2011 are labelled Langhe Sori San Lorenzo.

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Gaja Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo 2017 750ml Case of 6

Winery Gaja

Varietal Nebbiolo

Country Italy

Region Piedmont

Appellation Barbaresco

James Suckling

Wine Spectator

Wine Advocate

Decanter

Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous Media

Winery Notes

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