2001 Gaja Sorì San Lorenzo, Langhe DOC

97 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous. Six bottles available.

Sorì San Lorenzo is the most structured of Gaja's three Barbaresco crus, a steep south-facing slope above the Tanaro that belonged to the church until the Gaja family bought it in 1964. This is the wine that made Angelo Gaja's reputation abroad and it is the one that ages longest.

Why the label says Langhe and not Barbaresco

Because it is not 100% Nebbiolo, and Barbaresco has to be. Starting with the 1996 vintage, Angelo Gaja pulled Sorì San Lorenzo, Sorì Tildin and Costa Russi out of Barbaresco DOCG so he could include a small proportion of Barbera, around 5% in practice. Gaia Gaja has explained that her father wanted to make the wines the way they had been before 1966, when the appellation and its 100% Nebbiolo rule came into being. The family reversed the decision with the 2013 vintage and returned all three crus to Barbaresco. That makes 1996 through 2011 a closed, finite window, and this 2001 sits in the middle of it.

Where this bottle came from

Bottles at this level reach us through private collectors we know personally, people who bought on release and cellared properly ever since. Every rare bottle is inspected before we take it and stays in temperature-controlled storage from the moment it enters our hands.

In the glass

Galloni described dark fruit, leather, goudron and licorice, calling it the richest and deepest of the three crus in this vintage, cool and inward. Expect classic mature Nebbiolo: tar and roses giving way to dried cherry, truffle and tobacco, with the fine, insistent tannin that Barbaresco keeps for decades.

Critic scores

• 97 points · Antonio Galloni, Vinous

The details

• Producer: Gaja
• Vineyard: Sorì San Lorenzo, Barbaresco, Piedmont
• Appellation: Langhe DOC
• Vintage: 2001
• Blend: 95% Nebbiolo, 5% Barbera
• Format: 750ml
• Drinking window: 2016 to 2031, per Vinous. Mid-window now.

Serving and pairing

Decant ninety minutes ahead and serve at 60 to 62°F. Nebbiolo of this age wants fat and salt: braised beef, agnolotti in butter and sage, porcini, or an aged Castelmagno.

Common questions

Is Langhe DOC a lesser designation than Barbaresco DOCG?
Not here. Gaja chose it deliberately for his three best vineyards and priced them accordingly. The label is a statement about the blend, not a step down in quality.

Is 2001 ready to drink?
Yes, and it will hold for another five years or more. Vinous gives it through 2031. Decant it properly.

Six bottles, shipped from our Florida cellar in protective packaging. Browse more rare and limited vintages.