Barbaresco Sori Tilden--Vintage 1981

Offered duty paid, but available in bond. VAT at 1… Read more

FOCUS ON ITALY FINE WINES FROM RENOWNED PIEDMONTESE PRODUCER ANGELO GAJA Angelo Gaja has been the main driving force for putting Barbaresco wines firmly into the category of international cult status wines. Angelo Gaja is the man who proved that wines from Barbaresco could sell for higher prices than many top-class clarets, and is arguably the most famous producer of Barbaresco, winning numerous awards for its wines such as Sori Tildin, Sori San Lorenzo, Costa Russi, and Barbaresco. Gaja also produces Barolo from the Sperss vineyards and Darmagi, Gaia and Rey, Sauvignon Alteni di Brassica, and Conteisa. Angelo Gaja has acquired legendary status in the major wine markets of the world which is emphasized by the following quote from Robert Parker, (The Wine Advocate) 'The admirable Angelo Gaja remains fanatically committed to excellence, and because of that he is Piedmont's reference point, as well as an inspiration to many of the young growers just beginning to estate bottle their wines.' The history and Piedmontese origins of the Gajas go back to 1856 when the family opened a small tavern in the town of Barbaresco and began serving its own wines to complement the food. The subsequent success of the winery has had much to do with the continuity of excellence provided by four generations of Gajas. Angelo Gaja joined the family business in 1961, and subsequently took over the running of the family business in 1970. Since then he has made many changes (ably assisted by oenologist Guido Rivella): Among those that stand out are the following: he stopped buying in grapes; he reduced yields; he identified his best Barbaresco vineyards and began to vinify and bottle them separately as single vineyard wines (the launch of Sori San Lorenzo occurred in 1967, Sorl Tildin in 1970 and Costa Russi in 1978); he also introduced small oak barrels for ageing; and, arguable the most ground breaking innovation was that he planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. This radically changed the style of the wines, which made them more approachable than the traditional style which had required considerable oxygenation before drinking. Angelo Gaja acquired a number of vineyards in the late 1980s, with the purchase of the Gromis estate (in La Morra) which enabled him to add a Barolo to his wine portfolio. This was followed in 1994 by the acquisition of the Pieve Santa Restituta vineyard (in Montalcino where 40 acres are planted with Sangiovese and produce two Brunello di Montalcino wines; the highly acclaimed Rennina and Sugarille Brunellos). In 1996 Gaja bought a second Tuscan property called Ca'Marcanda (Castagneto Carducci in Bolgheri). The focus at Ca'Marcanda is on international grape varieties; the estate's 150-acres are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah vines. Today Gaja has 101 hectares of vineyards divided into 32 separate plots and produces around 30,000 cases of wine a year. Gaja produces world-class wines that sell for world-class prices. Angelo Gaja remains most famous for his wines from the Nebbiolo grape from the village of Barbaresco, in his native Piedmont. Gaja's name has become synonymous with excellence and the highest quality, and the reputation of Piedmont as one of the world's finest wine producing regions has largely been a result of the efforts of Angelo Gaja. Gaja's wines display opulence, elegance and finesse and are designed to last for decades. When serious oenophiles consider Italian wines for their collections, Gaja is often one of the first names on their list. Gaja wines have a proud and established track record, which guarantees that the wines will delight when opened and enjoyed.

12 bottles per lot

Details

Lying in Kemble, Gloucestershire (Octavian)

Offered duty-paid, but available in bond
Barbaresco Sori Tilden--Vintage 1981
Piedmont. Gaja
12 bottles per lot

Special notice

Offered duty paid, but available in bond. VAT at 17.5% will be charged on the hammer price on removal of the lot from bond.

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