and more:
• Gaja's Super Tuscan
• Intro to Gaja's Reds & Whites
• The Wines of Gaja

Beyond Gaja's Barbaresco

He is arguably the most important and controversial man in Italian wine over the past four decades. His family, beginning with his grandmother and father, have undoubtedly produced the greatest Barbarescos ever (for accuracy Giacosa needs to be included as well) – in fact Barbaresco was not on the radar of wine enthusiasts until Angelo began his relentless worldwide campaign in the sixties. The Gaja name is now synonymous with Barbaresco and quality.

While Piemonte may represent Angelo Gaja’s soul, his spiritual and qualitative leadership has extended well beyond the Nebbiolo grape and the foothills of the Langhe. What you might not already know is that Gaja produces some of the greatest Barolos, Brunellos, Chardonnays, and Cabernet-based wines in all of Italy, most of which carry the signature balance of power, opulence, and elegance that his single vineyard Barbarescos have achieved.

Today, IWM is featuring an unprecedented Gaja offering that extends beyond Barbaresco for both the enthusiast and collector. Read on below to learn about the maestro's and his spellbinding wines, then click into our website for the Gaja's Barbarescos that line Sergio's cellar. This historical line-up now includes the 1985 Sori Tildin Barbaresco and 1989 Sperss Barolo as well as Italy's greatest Chardonnay, Gaia & Rey. Many of these wines have the ability to age 20-30 years and represent perfection in winemaking. If you would like to purchase these wines or should you have any questions on the wines of Angelo Gaja, please contact our Portfolio Managers at 212.473.2323.

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Gaja's New Take on Barolo

Gaja’s Conteisa, though the product of grapes grown in Barolo, is classified as Langhe DOC due to the 8% Barbera that is added to the Nebbiolo. Much to the chagrin of the local cognoscenti, Angelo believes this adds acidity and freshness to the wine. He also firmly states that this is no indication of a trend towards making Super Piemonte wines and his relatively new approach is used only in vintages that merit the addition. The wine is named for the medieval ‘conteisa,’ or quarrel, between the zones of La Morra and Barolo over the prime vineyard land of Cerequio.

Dark garnet red. Flowers are perceived in the glass along with rich notes of spicy, freshly crushed red berries. The same flavors follow on the full, concentrated palate with smooth tannins leading into a long finish.

1996 Conteisa $179.00 (750 ml)
1998 Conteisa $129.95 (750 ml)
1998 Conteisa $935.50 (5L)
2000 Conteisa $167.99 (750 ml)

Click here to reserve your allocation of Conteisa by fax!

Italy's Greatest White?

Not only is this the best Chardonnay in Italy; it is also arguably the best white wine to come out of the Boot! The wine comes from Angelo's first Chardonnay vineyard and is named for his oldest daughter, Gaia Gaja, and his grandmother, Clotilde Rey, a marketing mastermind who taught Angelo the importance of promotion. And how Angelo listened. Be sure to experience Gaja's introductory Chardonnay, Rossj-Bass.

Gaia & Rey is fermented with naturally occurring yeasts found on the grape skins and in the winery, giving the wine an added touch of exoticism. This is a hedonistic wine with lusciously ripe flavors of guava, tangerine, honey, marzipan and oak spice. Impressively chewy in the mouth, the concentrated, ripe fruit is perfectly balanced by lively acidity that holds through the long, lingering finish.

1998 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $260.00 (1.5L)
1999 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $129.50 (750 ml)
1999 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $260.00 (1.5L)
2000 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $59.50 (375ml)
2000 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $129.95 (750 ml)
2000 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $260.00 (1.5L)
2000 Chardonnay Gaia & Rey $129.95 (750 ml)

Click here to reserve your allocation of Gaia & Rey by fax!

Gaja's Super Tuscan

The word ‘magari’ is rather droll for anyone new to the Italian language and can hardly be restricted to translations like “let’s hope so” or “I wish….” It can be a simple wish, as in concurrence with “I hope to visit Italy next summer;” it can dryly express hope for the unlikely; or, most often, it can be a sarcastic retort to “Maybe I’ll win the lottery today.” We leave it to you to imagine the inner merriment Gaja must have felt in choosing this rich word to name his wine. What you will find inside the bottle, however, attests to the winemaker’s success at his Ca’ Marcanda estate in Bolgheri.

This lush wine, half Merlot with 25% each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, is one of the greatest Super Tuscans around. Dark ruby red. Spicy dark purple fruit on the nose with fresh underbrush and hints of tabacco. A rich, voluptuous palate presents more ripe dark fruit with woody undertones and well-integrated tannins. Spices reappear and stretch into a lingering finish.

2001 Magari $69.95 (750 ml)

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Intro to Gaja's Reds & Whites

Rossj-Bass
The grapes for Rossj-Bass are sourced from a vineyard named for Angelo’s youngest daughter, Rossana, known as Rossj for short. This white wine is a clearly defined, more graceful Chardonnay (enhanced by a touch of Sauvignon Blanc) that spends less time in barrique than the Gaia & Rey.

Beautiful gold in the glass. The delicate perfume of citrus fruits and honeysuckle is followed by a richly fruited, medium-bodied palate showing a very subtle touch of spicy new oak. Older versions exhibit nuts and honey – signs of development. Though more lithe than the other Piemonte Chardonnays, this is nonetheless a wine with admirable depth, adequate acidity and fine persistence.

1998 Rossj-Bass $59.95 (750 ml)
1999 Rossj-Bass $28.97 (375 ml)
1999 Rossj-Bass $59.95 (750 ml)
2000 Rossj-Bass $27.95 (375 ml)
2000 Rossj-Bass $59.95 (750 ml)
2003 Rossj-Bass $28.27 (375 ml)

Sito Moresco
The Sito Moresco vineyard is located near the city of Treiso in the famous Pajoré area of the lower Langhe, which boasts south and southwest exposure as well as a marl soil excellent for grape-growing. Popular belief is that Gaja determined to buy this land only after appraising the Pajoré wines of Enrico Giovanni Moresco.

Nebbiolo (35%), Merlot (35%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (30%). The Sito Moresco is a complex wine with aging potential yet is still accessible. Ruby red color. The fresh fruit aromas of blackberry and black currant are complemented by intriguing notes of violet and mint. Intensely flavored, silky and well delineated. The dark berry fruit from the Cabernet and Merlot follows onto the palate where the Nebbiolo contributes strokes of leather and tobacco smoke. A suave wine with harmonious acidity, silky tannins, and a delightfully long finish.

1997 Sito Moresco $44.90 (750 ml)
2000 Sito Moresco $28.27 (375 ml)
2000 Sito Moresco $59.95 (750 ml)
2001 Sito Moresco $28.27 (375 ml)

Click here to reserve your Gaja allocation by fax!

The Wines of Gaja

The quality of Gaja did not begin with Angelo. In fact, his father's 1961 may be the greatest Barbaresco ever produced. What is important here is the legacy of quality that has evolved since the family emigrated from Spain over 300 years ago. Angelo inherited this gene along with the marketing sense of his ancestors and turned it up a notch.

Angelo took the Gaja trademark beyond the foothills of Barbaresco to the most prestigous wine zones of Italy. In 1988 Angelo purchased vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba and La Morra, where he transformed a rundown property into the birthplace of the now legendary Barolo Sperss as well as creating Italy’s greatest Chardonnay, Gaia & Rey. Beyond the boundaries of Piemonte, the ambitious iconoclast went on to bless the Santa Restituta estate in Montalcino by releasing the exceptional Sugarille and Rennina bottlings. With accomplished greatness in Barbaresco, Barolo, and Brunello as well as Chardonnay, the next logical step for the dynamic winemaker was Bolgheri, home of the Super Tuscan movement. With Sassicaia, Ornellaia, and Le Macchiole as neighbors, Angelo continues to build on the efforts of the early pioneers.

Angelo Gaja has pushed the benchmark for quality in all the key wine areas of Italy. His inventive vineyard and cellar practices consistently break new ground, often putting him in the center of controversy - as he did when he dropped the appellation name of his single vineyard Barolos and Barbarescos in favor of adding a touch of Barbera to achieve higher acidity and freshness in his wines. This is a tremendous opportunity to experience and understand the wines from a legendary winemaker. Please click below to continue your exploration of Gaja and to learn more on his mythical Barbarescos.

Click here for Vintage Gaja!