2021 Barbaresco
Buying options
Tasting notes
The aromas of licorice, minerals, light tar and dark berries such as raspberry are so attractive. It�s medium-bodied with a tight and integrated palate of fine tannins that are seamless and unseen. It�s long and lively. It needs two to four years to open up. Try after 2027.
Critic scores
Average Score
Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Barbaresco is a powerful, layered wine from Gaja. In some recent years, the Barbaresco has been pretty approachable out of the gate, but the 2021 is a deep, serious wine with a lot of potential for future development. Pretty floral and spice notes linger on the finish. I admire its vibrant, dynamic personality.
The aromas of licorice, minerals, light tar and dark berries such as raspberry are so attractive. It’s medium-bodied with a tight and integrated palate of fine tannins that are seamless and unseen. It’s long and lively. It needs two to four years to open up. Try after 2027.
A brightly jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Barbaresco is super-expressive, with loads of wild raspberries that leap from the glass along with notes of strawberries, pressed roses, fresh orange, and violet. As it opens, it evens picks up some spice box, cigar incense, and cherry notes. Crystalline in nature and ripe, this next-level red delivers ripe, sweet tannins, great tension, and fresh, vibrant acidity, without any austerity. A luxury racecar, it’s fantastic and possibly the wine of the year.
About the producer
Gaja has been at the forefront of the Piedmont wine scene for many years and is Barbaresco’s most decorated producer. The winery has received a record number of Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri awards – the highest accolade from Italy’s leading wine publication.