Gaja Barolo Sperss DOP 2018

Description

Gaja Barolo Sperss is made from 100% Nebbiolo from the Sperss single vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. It is bottled as a Barolo Denominazione Origine Protetta (DOP for short). Gaja Barolo Sperss is a powerful yet elegant wine.

Gaja is simply one of the most famous Italian wine producers. The business was founded in 1859 in Langhe, Piedmont by Giovanni Gaja and it is his great grandson, Angelo Gaja, who currently runs the company. They are most famous for classic Piedmont wines such as this Barolo and their fantastic Barbaresco. Indeed, Angelo has often been referred to as the “King of Barbaresco” and has been responsible for developing techniques that have revolutionised winemaking in Italy. As well as their estate and vineyards in Piedmont Gaja also have two estates in Tuscany, Pieve Santa Restituta and  Ca’Marcanda. Whereas the concentration in Piedmont and at Pieve Santa Restituta is on more traditional wines, the focus at Ca’Marcanda is on international grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot) and “Super-Tuscan” style blends like the Promis and Magari.  They also produce another Barolo called Dagromis.

As mentioned above, the Sperss vineryard is located in the commune of Serralunga d”Alba in the sub-area of  Marenca-Rivette. The vineyard covers some 12 hectares and forms an amphitheatre planted on clayey-calcareous marls and has a south, south-west exposure with an average altitude of 270m. The vines have an average age of 55 years.  The grapes for the Gaja Barolo Sperss undergo a fermentation and maceration for around three weeks followed by ageing in oak for 24 months. 

Only 11,000 bottles were produced in 2018, somewhat down from the normal 18,000 bottles per vintage.

Sperss translates as “nostalgia” in the local Piemontese dialect.