Gaja's 2014 Barbaresco is rich, super-dense, and inviting, with serious underpinnings of structure and the same classicism that made the 2013 so compelling. Dense and powerful in the glass, with explosive energy and tons of tannin, the 2014 is built for extended cellaring. Expressive floral and savory notes hover out of the glass in this super-expressive Barbaresco. This is one of the most tightly wound, intense versions of Gaja's Barbaresco I can remember tasting. Don't miss it.

Delicious nose of dried flowers, rosemary, sage, rose petals, blackberry perfume and walnuts. Full body, structured, round tannins, pretty acidity and a mouth-watering finish. Very well done for the vintage: one of the best. Drink now or hold.

The 2014 Barbaresco is beautiful and made in a fine, elegant style. Its medium ruby color is followed by classic (yet incredibly pure) notes of ripe black cherries and currants, with ample floral nuances, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied depth and richness that carries serious amounts of ripe, polished tannins. With nicely integrated acidity, beautiful purity of fruit, and a big finish, it blossoms with time in the glass yet still needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 25-30 years.

Gaia Gaja tells me 2014 was one of the best vintages ever in Barbaresco, if not the best for her vineyards. She cites the prolonged growing season that continued at a slow rate during the cooler summer months only to speed up thanks to a heat spell at the very end, right before harvest. Nebbiolo loves slow maturity and a prolonged growth cycle: The 2014 vintage did indeed get off to an exceptionally slow start. The 2014 Barbaresco is not austere or astringent. Instead, it offers plump ripeness with rich fruit flavors backed by spice, licorice and tobacco. The wine offers good structure from the point of view of its tannins, yet there is no harshness or bitterness whatsoever.

Finely perfumed, pure and elegantly built and with mouth-filling, sandy tannins. (WS)

From a notoriously wet, underrated vintage. A foggy August was rescued in September which was followed by a cold, dry October. A tiny crop of fully ripe grapes. Transparent ruby. Lots of tannin and density. Quite grainy and earthy. I’d keep this rather austere wine awhile. There’s certainly Nebbiolo’s famous tarriness on the finish after distinctly liquorice notes. Then it developed autumn mulch on the nose. (JR)