Darmagi loves a warm vintage. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Darmagi embraces the summer warmth like a happy sponge. This wine is faithfully true to the variety, with intensely dark fruit followed by dried cassis, exotic spice and green laurel leaf. There is a point of succulent sweetness in the mouth that is uniquely specific to this hot vintage. The wine is seamless and smooth in texture with solid structure on the close. The vines suffered from stripe disease (GLSD). This reduced the capacity of the plant's foliar system. Gaia Gaja tells me they were able to harvest from the healthy parts of the vines to make this beautiful wine.

95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep crimson. Intense, piercing cassis fruit, the oak discreet on the nose though more present on the palate in chewy texture and dark chocolate. I can see the appeal of this wine but the Barbarescos are so much finer and more elegant. This is very well polished, well balanced, and nowhere near ready to drink. (JH)