Gagliasso Barolo Riserva Oak Box is made from 100% Nebbiolo
Complex and intense aromas of red fruits intermixed with licorice, prune, leather, smoke and notes of toasty oak and vanilla. Full-bodied on the palate with loads of ripe dried and candied fruits, pepper and mocha.
The wine comes in a 6 bottle wooden box.
After malolattic fermentation the wine stays for 10 months in French barrels, 10% new oak and 90% different years; after this period all barrels are blended ( 50% Torriglione and 50% Rocche dell’Annunziata) in old barrels for 48 months again. The wine is bottled and refined for 24 months.
There's a gritty, sandy quality to the tannins that would cut through roast pork stuffed with prunes.
Review:
Brilliant ruby red. Hearty and approachable on the nose, noble spice, peppery, slightly of blood, mineral components, noble ripe berries. Very expressive on the palate with close-meshed, compact tannins, salty, deep and long.
-Falstaff 94 Points
Gagliasso Barolo Riserva Oak Box is made from 100% Nebbiolo
Complex and intense aromas of red fruits intermixed with licorice, prune, leather, smoke and notes of toasty oak and vanilla. Full-bodied on the palate with loads of ripe dried and candied fruits, pepper and mocha.
After malolattic fermentation the wine stays for 10 months in French barrels, 10% new oak and 90% different years; after this period all barrels are blended ( 50% Torriglione and 50% Rocche dell’Annunziata) in old barrels for 48 months again. The wine is bottled and refined for 24 months.
There's a gritty, sandy quality to the tannins that would cut through roast pork stuffed with prunes.
“1752” is the name of the Damilano Barolo Cannubi Riserva, in honor of the year in which the historic bottle was first marked “Cannubi”. It still exists today perfectly conserved by the Manzone family in Bra, close to Barolo. The bottle is clearly marked as being of “1752” vintage, indicating that Cannubi historically precedes Barolo.
About the Vineyard:
The Cannubi Cru is in found within one of the 6 core zones which comprise a UNESCO heritage site in Italy. A mixture of Tortonian and Helvetian calcareous marl gives the grapes intense aromas of cherry, plum and tobacco, rose and violet in sequence. Its low potassium and high calcium/magnesium content offer the wine a fine and polished touch. The vineyard is located at about 270 m. a.s.l. and has a south-east sun exposure. Barolo Riserva Cannubi 1752 It is a small plot of about 2 hectares of Nebbiolo vines, currently between 30 and 50 years of age.
Tasting Notes:
Garnet ruby red in color, the bouquet is intense and balanced, with notes of violet, red fruit, cherry and plum, spices, liquorice, cocoa, leather and tobacco. Dry, robust, full-bodied, very persistent, rich and velvety
Food Pairing:
This wine is excellent with typical piedmontes pasta (tajarin, ravioli); perfect with red meat, braised and roast meat, game and absolutely ideal with all types of cheeses.
Review:
The purity of this wine is pretty phenomenal with blackberries, strawberries, fresh flowers and licorice. Hints of tar. It’s full-bodied, yet composed and compact with ultra fine tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Very structured. Try after 2024.
-James Suckling 97 Points
Gagliasso Torriglione Barolo is 100% Nebbiolo
Aged 12 months in French Oak barrels (50% new, 50% second use), then the wine is blended in big 2500 liter foudre for 18 months. And finally, the wine is aged in the bottle for 12 months before release.
The wine offers a free range of blackberry, cassis, tar, leather and tobacco-like aromas. But, in the mouth you'll taste the jamminess and maturity of the fruit. It's a smooth, soft wine with a long strawberry fade.
Average density of vines: 5500 vines per hectare Classical Guyot method with medium-short pruning; vineyard with south exposure with medium slope. Green harvest in two different times with reduction of grapes with a production per hectare around 5500 kg . Torriglione grape are harvested very ripe with a meticulous selection; the fermentation took place in stainless steel vats with temperature controlled. The fermentation is around 33-34°C with 15-17 days of maceration ; malolactic fermentation took place spontaneously in stainless steel vats. After malolattic fermentation the wine stay for 12 months in French barrels, 50% new oak and 50% 2 years; after this period the barrels are blended in big barrels of 2500 liters for 18 months. The wine is bottled and refined for 10-12 months.
Gagliasso Torriglione Barolo is 100% Nebbiolo
Aged 12 months in French Oak barrels (50% new, 50% second use), then the wine is blended in big 2500 liter foudre for 18 months. And finally, the wine is aged in the bottle for 12 months before release.
The wine offers a free range of blackberry, cassis, tar, leather and tobacco-like aromas. But, in the mouth you'll taste the jamminess and maturity of the fruit. It's a smooth, soft wine with a long strawberry fade.
Average density of vines: 5500 vines per hectare Classical Guyot method with medium-short pruning; vineyard with south exposure with medium slope. Green harvest in two different times with reduction of grapes with a production per hectare around 5500 kg . Torriglione grape are harvested very ripe with a meticulous selection; the fermentation took place in stainless steel vats with temperature controlled. The fermentation is around 33-34°C with 15-17 days of maceration ; malolactic fermentation took place spontaneously in stainless steel vats. After malolattic fermentation the wine stay for 12 months in French barrels, 50% new oak and 50% 2 years; after this period the barrels are blended in big barrels of 2500 liters for 18 months. The wine is bottled and refined for 10-12 months.
“1752” is the name of the Damilano Barolo Cannubi Riserva, in honor of the year in which the historic bottle was first marked “Cannubi”. It still exists today perfectly conserved by the Manzone family in Bra, close to Barolo. The bottle is clearly marked as being of “1752” vintage, indicating that Cannubi historically precedes Barolo.
About the Vineyard:
The Cannubi Cru is in found within one of the 6 core zones which comprise a UNESCO heritage site in Italy. A mixture of Tortonian and Helvetian calcareous marl gives the grapes intense aromas of cherry, plum and tobacco, rose and violet in sequence. Its low potassium and high calcium/magnesium content offer the wine a fine and polished touch. The vineyard is located at about 270 m. a.s.l. and has a south-east sun exposure. Barolo Riserva Cannubi 1752 It is a small plot of about 2 hectares of Nebbiolo vines, currently between 30 and 50 years of age.
Tasting Notes:
Garnet ruby red in color, the bouquet is intense and balanced, with notes of violet, red fruit, cherry and plum, spices, liquorice, cocoa, leather and tobacco. Dry, robust, full-bodied, very persistent, rich and velvety
Food Pairing:
This wine is excellent with typical piedmontes pasta (tajarin, ravioli); perfect with red meat, braised and roast meat, game and absolutely ideal with all types of cheeses.
Review:
“Incredible, reserved ripeness and depth already evident on the nose after one whiff, offering plum, cedar, rose hip, sandalwood, and licorice. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and an abundance of polished tannins that give the wine poise and grace, even though it’s long and powerful. The quality of the tannins are exceptional. Sheer and refined. This comes from the center of Cannubi.”
-James Suckling 99 Points
Gagliasso Barolo Riserva Oak Box is made from 100% Nebbiolo
Complex and intense aromas of red fruits intermixed with licorice, prune, leather, smoke and notes of toasty oak and vanilla. Full-bodied on the palate with loads of ripe dried and candied fruits, pepper and mocha.
The wine comes in a 6 bottle wooden box.
After malolattic fermentation the wine stays for 10 months in French barrels, 10% new oak and 90% different years; after this period all barrels are blended ( 50% Torriglione and 50% Rocche dell’Annunziata) in old barrels for 48 months again. The wine is bottled and refined for 24 months.
There's a gritty, sandy quality to the tannins that would cut through roast pork stuffed with prunes.
Review:
Exciting the blend of Rocche and Torriglione which expresses so much power in this extraordinary vintage. Part in slight reduction and slowly reveals hints of black plums, tobacco leaf, tomato leaf, black tea leaves, melted caramel licorice, incense and lots of bergamot. Solid and powerful on the palate with perfectly ripe tannins. Magic in the glass in Barolo.
-WinesCritic.com 96 Points
Dark, radiant ruby red. On the nose, nuances of black tea, dried blood oranges, rich cherries, a bit of wild berries, light quinine, with an aftertaste of cedarwood and mint. On the palate with elegant, close-meshed tannin, rich dark fruit and harmonious course, spans a beautiful fan to the long finish.
-Falstaff 94 Points
The Gagliasso Estate
The Azienda Agricola Mario Gagliasso is located in the town of La Morra, south of Piedmont, in the province of Cuneo, in the Langhe area.
The winery offers one of the most beautiful views over the Langhe area.
La Morra is located at 513 meters above sea-level, 13 km from Alba, on the top of an imposing hill with the Alps and the Monviso as a background. The hill is planted with vines, for ming huge waves and creating an amphitheatre of rare beauty.
Luca Gagliasso’s family has a long history of winemaking. Luca's grandfather began 50 years ago, at which time he bottled the first Barolo from their historic vineyard, Rocche dell'Annunziata. Around 1987, Lucas's father took over the family tradition of producing wine and brought forth a few changes: he started by using barriques from France, together with large barrels and temperature controlled steel vats. He also purchased a new vineyard. Luca began working with his father during the 2000 vintage, only part time for the first 3 years. He also worked for 3 years with their wine consultant in an analysis laboratory, and worked as a consultant for other wineries.
Luca now works alongside his father, mother, and sister on their 12 hectares of vineyards. On the weekends, Luca's sister and mother work in their restaurant as cooks – only the Gagliasso wines are served. They are currently extending their facility and in the future they plan to incorporate some guest rooms to the restaurant.
The Gagliasso family produces around 60,000 bottles: 40% Barolo, 30% Barbera, 20% Dolcetto and 10% Chardonnay. They have around 250 barriques and 6 large barrels.
Dolcetto is very fruity, aged for a small period in big cask. They produce 3 Barolos and 2 Barberas, one aged 18 months in new oak and the other one only in steel vats. They age the Barolo for 18 months in new barriques, then 12 months in a large cask. Chardonnay is cold macerated, then fermented and aged in French oak for 9 months.
Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
Austere and very mineral expression of Barolo. Aromas of dark cherries and raspberries jump out vividly from the glass. Hints of iron, menthol, new leather add to the depth and intrigue of this wine. Refined and polished, Cerretta has an extra layer of tannins, important structure and a lively acidity which are nearly buried by its exquisitely lush fruit.
The 2018 Barolo Cerretta offers good focus with a sharp and linear style that gives way to forest berry, wild rose, rusty nail and crushed stone. The wine is extremely direct, and that's what sets it apart. In that sense, this wine is faithful to the characteristics of Serralunga d'Alba. The soils of Cerretta see a layer of white marl on the surface and red clay further down; that's where those rusty sensations must come from. Best After 2024
-Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 94 Points
Luigi Baudana Barolo Baudana is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
A deep red in the glass introduces aromas of pure cherries and plums accented with spice, graphite, eucalyptus and licorice. Warm and dry character with firm tannins balanced by a fresh and gentle acidity. A unique soil composition with blue clay translates in a wine with a powerful elegance.
Review:
Rich, exuding cherry, raspberry, plum and floral notes, with iron, tobacco and tar accents lending complexity. Shows terrific balance and depth, with a tightly wound structure that bodes well for future development.
- Wine Spectator 94 Points
Elvio Cogno Cascina Nuova Barolo 2017
Born to satisfy the curiosity of consumers keen to have a more immediate understanding of Barolo, the wine is bright garnet red in color with orange tints. Pleasing and immediate, it offers scents of flowers and light, delicate spices. The mouth is agreeably rounded, juicy and fresh, with just the right balance between pleasantness and elegance. The aftertaste is very harmonious with a mineral, aromatic finish.
Review:
Attractive dried strawberry with cherry and tar on the nose. Full-bodied with powerful tannins that are dusty and intense. Very flavorful and long. Solid as a rock. Needs at least three or four years to soften and come together.
-James Suckling 95 Points
Elvio Cogno Baroloa Ravera is made from 100 percent Nebbiolo.
2017 is to be considered a very good vintage. Despite being characterized by hot and dry summer months, water reserves in the soil and September rain saved the vines from being stressed by water shortage. These factors, together with the excellent exposure of our plots and the scrupulous practices adopted in the vineyard during the growing season, allowed the grapes to fully ripen, avoiding to anticipate the harvest date too much. The 2017 wines are incredibly pleasant to drink: they are rich in crunchy red fruit, with an energetic mouthfeel, dominated by freshness and elegant tannins.
Goes well with braised meats, stewed game, roasts, and mature cheeses such as pecorino and Parmigiano Reggiano.
Brilliant garnet-red in color with orange highlights. Firm, elegant and potent on the nose, it has scents of dog-rose, mint and tobacco, scents that meld over the course of time into spice, coffee, licorice, truffle, leather and minerals. A full-bodied, rounded bouquet of great structure and balance, redolent of plum jam and withered brambles. The persistent chocolatey aftertaste is harmonious and enticing. Over the years, it gradually refines its characteristics to achieve classic elegance and composure.
Review:
Made by the estate that put this celebrated cru on the map, and showing an enviable combination of elegance and power, this stunning wine opens with aromas of wild berries, underbrush, dark spice and balsamic notes of cedar and new leather. The tense, savory palate is loaded with youthful energy, showing succulent Marasca cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and star anise framed in tightly knit, refined tannins and surprisingly bright acidity for the vintage. A mineral note suggesting iron adds depth to the close.
-Wine Enthusiast 98 Point
Patz & Hall Gaps Grown Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Gap's Crown Pinot Noir.
This vineyard sits high on a rock strewn, windswept hill directly overlooking the Petaluma Gap, the coastal mountain feature that feeds the cool Pacific air into the Russian River basin. Usually the last vineyard we pick each year, this extremely slow ripening site shows deeply fruity aromas of black cherry, plum, and cassis. Notes of sandalwood, moist fresh earth, and a faint waft of ocean spray define this wine as one of the most unique in our lineup. A crowd-pleasing richness is tempered by a fresh beam of mouthwatering acidity. Gap's Crown Vineyard is a very long-lived wine that rewards patient cellaring.
Review:
Classy forest floor, mulberry, black raspberry, spice, and incense notes emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Gap's Crown, a beautifully elegant, seamless, classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. This is a great vineyard.
- Jeb Dunnuch 94 Points
Gagliasso Torriglione Barolo is 100% Nebbiolo
Aged 12 months in French Oak barrels (50% new, 50% second use), then the wine is blended in big 2500 liter foudre for 18 months. And finally, the wine is aged in the bottle for 12 months before release.
The wine offers a free range of blackberry, cassis, tar, leather and tobacco-like aromas. But, in the mouth you'll taste the jamminess and maturity of the fruit. It's a smooth, soft wine with a long strawberry fade.
Average density of vines: 5500 vines per hectare Classical Guyot method with medium-short pruning; vineyard with south exposure with medium slope. Green harvest in two different times with reduction of grapes with a production per hectare around 5500 kg . Torriglione grape are harvested very ripe with a meticulous selection; the fermentation took place in stainless steel vats with temperature controlled. The fermentation is around 33-34°C with 15-17 days of maceration ; malolactic fermentation took place spontaneously in stainless steel vats. After malolattic fermentation the wine stay for 12 months in French barrels, 50% new oak and 50% 2 years; after this period the barrels are blended in big barrels of 2500 liters for 18 months. The wine is bottled and refined for 10-12 months.
Exceptionally aromatic with aromas of violets, hints of blackberry, blackcurrant and black plum on the nose. There is some spice that is balanced with fresh acidity and minerality. A long finish with ripe but firm tannins.
Dow's Senhora da Ribeira can be enjoyed anytime and pairs wonderfully with chocolate desserts and soft cheeses like creamy Stilton or Roquefort.
Review:
Rich and fruity, this wine is packed with intense black-currant flavors. It is perfumed, ripe with a good tannic background. The density of the wine and the firm structure point to a long aging process. Drink this beautifully structured wine from 2026.
-Wine Enthusiast 93 Points
Winemaking:
Senhora da Ribeira has one of the most advanced specialist wineries in the Douro, combining the best of traditional winemaking practice, evolved over centuries, and the latest state-of-the-art automated systems. Three granite ‘lagares’ for foot treading are complemented by three ‘robotic’ lagares, designed by the Symington family and installed in the quinta’s winery in 2001.
It has long been recognised that traditional treading produced some of the finest Ports, but there are some drawbacks involved in traditional treading; temperature control is difficult, there is a limit to how long people are willing to tread and they need to sleep. The winemaker’s options are therefore limited, he or she cannot order treading at different times through the night, or pull people off the picking team at will. Furthermore, emptying the traditional lagar takes a long time; in the meantime the fermentation process is accelerating away. A further handicap arose over recent years, when an increasing scarcity of labour obliged producers to look for less labour-intensive vinification solutions. The Symingtons opted to devise a mechanical means of replicating the proven method of foot treading. The result was the Symington ‘robotic lagar’, an automated treading machine which exactly replicates the gentle action of the human foot and which has revolutionised winemaking in the Douro Valley. This equipment is very expensive but the results have been so good that an increasing proportion of Dow’s finest wines are now made in these automated lagares. Approximately half of the wines for Dow’s much praised 2003 Vintage were vinified in them.
The Senhora da Ribeira’s Quinta Vintage Ports have amassed a highly impressive number of awards: three Gold Medals at the International Wine Challenge, (2008, 2006 and 2001, for the 2005, 2002 and 1999 Vintages, respectively) as well as seven Silver Medals and two Gold Medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (London, 2008 for the 2005 Vintage and 2002 for the 1998 Vintage). In September 2006, Jancis Robinson MW wrote, “One very exciting new bottling is Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira 2004...this single quinta bottling demonstrates superb quality with wonderful vibrancy. Great wine in any context - not that unlike some California reds! This is definitely a wine to look out for when it is released.”
Wine Profile
The very hot climate through the summer at this vineyard results in highly complex and concentrated wines but very low yields. Colours of the musts in the fermentation tanks are always purple-black due to the very high skin to juice ratio. The old vines add further to the intensity of the wine as they make up a very large percentage of the vineyard. The resulting wine can be described as being the essence of Vintage Port, with powerful wild red-fruit flavours, leading into rich black chocolate notes, the whole balanced by complex, attractive and peppery tannins.
One of the Douro’s most beautiful vineyards, Senhora da Ribeira is located 24km (15 miles) upriver from Quinta do Bomfim in the remote Douro Superior. The vineyard commands a magnificent north bank position, overlooking a broad sweep of the Douro, directly opposite another famous Symington owned vineyard: Quinta do Vesuvio. Senhora de Ribeira was built close to an ancient river crossing, guarded by two 12th century castles on either side of the river built by the Moors during their centuries long occupation of Iberia. A small chapel dedicated to the ‘Lady of the River’ (literally: Senhora da Ribeira) has stood here for centuries and gave the quinta its name. Travellers would pause here to ask for a safe river passage and onward journey.
Senhora da Ribeira’s wines are some of the finest in the Douro and they complement those from Bomfim in the composition of Dow’s classic Vintage Ports. The quinta’s high proportion of old vines (45% are over 25 years old) is of critical importance. The old vines are very low-yielding, producing on average less than 1Kg of grapes each, giving intense and concentrated musts which are ideal for classic Vintage Port. The remainder of the vineyard was replanted as follows: 21% in 2001 and 34% from 2004, the latter involving mainly Touriga Nacional vines. This grape variety - very important for Vintage Port - now represents almost exactly a third of the total planted at the quinta. The entire vineyard has the maximum ‘A’ rating.
As with Bomfim, the consistency of the climate plays a key role, although the rainfall is only half of that experienced at Bomfim: 448mm is the 10 year average. This more extreme climate, hot dry summers and cold, equally dry winters results in wines with unique depth of colour and complexity.
As with Quinta do Bomfim, the best Ports from Senhora de Ribeira are used to make Dow’s Vintage Ports in the great and rare ‘Declared’ years. In the good year’s when Dow’s does not ‘declare’ a Vintage, the best wines of ‘The Lady of the River’ are bottled as Dow’s Quinta de Senhora da Ribeira Vintage Port. They will tend to mature a little earlier than the very rare ‘Declared’ years, but can be every bit as good as some other Vintage Ports.
The wine offers a touch of pear, spice and dried fruit aromas on the nose, and exotic fruit characters. Minerality emerges from the primary rock soils, followed by an elegant and lively finish.
Chicken and pork dishes, good food companion to many dishes.