2015 Barbaresco Gaiun Martinenga
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Tasting notes
The 2015 Barbaresco Gaiun is dense, powerful and also very much closed in on itself. Gaiun has a track record of blossoming beautifully with time in bottle. I suspect that will be the case here as well, but readers will have to be patient. Time in the glass brings out kirsch, mint, blood orange, spice and star anise, all in a dense, packed Barbaresco nicely framed by French oak, 1/3rd of which is new. The 2015 is a gorgeous Gaiun that very much reflects the powerful, rich expression of Barbaresco that seems to come so easily here.
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Average Score
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The daring nose here beckons you in, captivating with its wide range of dried oregano, rosemary, thyme, dried cranberries, tamarind and lemon drizzle cake. Then it seduces you with its athletic build, casting a steely net of crafty tannins over soft fruit, like chain mail over supple skin. A spattering of acidity rises from the midst, electrifying the whole palate and turning any remnants of dried fruit into raindrops of mineral citrus. Not a hugely powerful wine, but an essay in structure and elegance. Drink from 2024.
The Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Gresy portfolio of wines from 2015 is very impressive, and the 2015 Barbaresco Gaiun Martinenga is yet another beautiful new release from this estate. This wine shows fine texture and contours, yet it is rock solid and firm at its inner core. That solid frame gives support to the many pretty floral, fruity and balsam spice aromas that rise to the top of the bouquet with such natural grace.
Barbaresco. Tasted blind. Deep ruby with orange tinges. Concentrated, lifted and fresh nose of strawberry and raspberry with dried stalks and spice hints (of oak?) and iron. Supple dark fruit with bitter-sweet, slightly drying tannins that are quite prominent on the finish. Still a little rough, but with potential. (WS)