Gaja Sori San Lorenzo 2020

Gaja Sori San Lorenzo 2020

 

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Gaja
Sori San Lorenzo 2020
  • Vintage : 2020
  • Country : Italy
  • Region : Tuscany
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14°
  • Grappes : 100% Nebbiolo

Gaja Sorì San Lorenzo 2020 is a profound single-vineyard Nebbiolo, renowned for its complexity, elegance, and deeply layered structure. It is a shining example of Barbaresco at its most expressive and refined.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 97+ 2020
JS James Suckling 98 2020
WS Wine Spectator 95 2020
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

Sorì San Lorenzo is situated in the Barbaresco D.O.P., just steps from the old town center of Barbaresco. The vineyard spans 3.38 hectares with a south-facing exposure, offering ideal sun exposure for Nebbiolo. The vines, averaging 50 years of age, thrive in clayey-calcareous marl soils at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level.

The 2020 vintage was marked by an unusual distribution of rainfall, concentrated primarily in the summer months rather than winter or spring. The growing season saw alternating warm days and thunderstorms, creating significant temperature variations in September and October. This weather contributed to the enhanced color, aromas, and health of the grapes, yielding fruit of exceptional quality.

Winemaking

Sorì San Lorenzo 2020 is made from 100% Nebbiolo, with fermentation and maceration lasting approximately three weeks. The wine was then aged in oak for 24 months, allowing the layers of flavor and texture to integrate harmoniously.

This careful vinification process reflects the distinctiveness of the vineyard while delivering a wine of precision, depth, and aging potential.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Intense, vibrant ruby red.
  • Aroma: Sweet initial notes open to reveal layers of cassis, red currants, licorice, and smoky undertones, complemented by a hint of citrus and mustard.
  • Palate: Dense and multifaceted, with a striking texture supported by fruit-driven tannins. The wine’s cask aging adds verve and tension, with a finish that is savory, slightly saline, and deeply complex.

Did you know?

The name Sorì San Lorenzo combines "Sorì," meaning "south-facing hillside" in the local dialect, and "San Lorenzo," the patron saint of Alba’s cathedral. The vineyard was once church property until its acquisition by the Gaja family in 1964. The first vintage of Sorì San Lorenzo was released in 1967, marking its place among Barbaresco’s most iconic wines.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Braised veal shank with rosemary and garlic: The wine’s dense structure and vibrant acidity enhance the richness of the dish.
  • Porcini mushroom risotto: The earthy flavors of the mushrooms align beautifully with the wine’s smoky and savory notes.
  • Slow-roasted lamb with mint sauce: The fine-grained tannins and herbal undertones complement the lamb’s tenderness and freshness.
  • Aged Fontina cheese: The wine’s complexity balances the creamy, nutty profile of this classic Italian cheese.

The story of this estate’s ascendancy is captivating, full of passion and innovation. The Gaja name was established in the region in the 1850s when Angelo’s great, great grandfather Giovanni Gaja moved to Piedmont and then set up a tavern in the lovely village of Barbaresco.

Since then 5 generations of the Gaja family have been involved in the winemaking process. Angelo Gaja joined the business in 1961, taking over the reins from his father Giovanni. It was at this point that the greatest changes were made and they have been fundamental.

Amongst the key changes and innovations introduced were the exclusive focus on estate grown fruit; the reduction of yields; scientifically analyzing the vineyards; separately bottling the vineyard sites to create single vineyard wines; ageing in small barrels made by a local cooperage from wood kept and seasoned at the estate as well as the traditional bottle; planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes alongside the traditional indigenous varieties much to everyone’s horror, not least that of his father.

Today Angelo Gaja and his family create spectacular Barbaresco and Barolo wines from the Nebbiolo grape at their estate in Piedmont alongside their iconic single vineyard wines under the Langhe DOC. They also produce extraordinary white wines with a great capacity to age. They are responsible for some of Italy’s most celebrated bottles which all exhibit the characteristic hallmark of power with sophisticated elegance that marks Gaja apart.

As one would expect for wines of this quality harvesting is done by hand with acute care taken to ensure that the fruit reaches the winery in perfect condition. Ruthless decision making, such as the decision in 2002 (a dilute and difficult year in Piedmont) to declassify the total crop and sell it in bulk, illustrates this well. All wines are fermented in stainless steel, with the reds seeing varying degrees of skin contact depending on the wine and the year. Ageing starts in small French oak barrels, a tactic developed by Angelo when he took responsibility for the winemaking in 1969, and moves to large oak casks for all but the whites and Sito Moresco. Angelo regards the traditional requirements that must be observed for inclusion of a wine in the legal DOC or DOCG quality standards as an impediment to his policy of seeking perfection. Thus the majority of Gaja wines are named according to the vineyard rather than the DOC or DOCG. That Costa Russi is basically Barbaresco and Sperss is basically Barolo is something that must simply be remembered.

Anyone who has had the pleasure to meet Angelo and his daughter Gaia will not be surprised by their success. They have an indomitable will, powerful personality and a total belief in their own direction. Great wines are often a reflection of the people that create them and this is definitely the case with Gaja. Multi layered, fascinating wines with great charm, elegance and longevity. It is no wonder that they are held in such great esteem.

Robert Parker (RP) : 97+ Points (2020)
The Gaja 2020 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo has bright cherry, currant and underbrush. This wine is very pretty in the mouth, especially if you considered the silky nature of the weightless tannins. The San Lorenzo is fueled by a long finish and does not drop off on the mid-palate. It keeps going strong with red fruits, high notes and balanced acidity. The wood tannins are melted into the wine's fine texture.

James Suckling (JS) : 98 Points (2020)
The aromas are like a bouquet of pink roses. So perfumed. Citrus. It also has subtle and pure aromas of strawberries, cherries and stone. Full-bodied but agile and floating on the palate with firm and chewy tannins at the end that remain balanced and fresh.

Wine Spectator (WS) : 95 Points (2020)
Elements of eucalyptus and juniper grace the cherry and raspberry fruit in this intense, complex red. Mineral and spice accents chime in as this builds to a long aftertaste. The texture is supple and there's plenty of energy on the resonant finish, where a chalky feel adds to the overall appeal.

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