Wednesday, January 14, 2009

2005 Gaja Sito Moresco

Sito Moresco is but one of many Barbaresco vineyards that provides the grapes for this Piedmont red. While some consider this to be an introductory Gaja wine, it certainly has a powerful, yet graceful nature with gorgeous aromas of vanilla, black and blue fruits, spice, and leather. The flavors follow the aromas; it's all there.

Gaja's single vineyard Barbarescos are phenomenal; my favorite: the 1997 Langhe Sorì San Lorenzo, Sorì means "hill" and San Lorenzo is the patron saint of Alba.

Sito Moresco is Gaja's Piedmont baby, an unusual blend of nebbiolo, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot. Gaja is known for his unusual ways: he opted out of DOCG status in 1996 by blending barbera into his some of his Barbarescos, he made two extraordinary chardonnays and a cabernet sauvignon which he contends was made to bring international attention to nebbiolo, dabbled with Brunello di Montalcino with his 1997 single vineyard Sugarille from his winery--Pieve S. Restituta, and founded Ca'Marcanda in Bolgheri, due south of Sassicaia and Ornellaia, which makes some of the most provocative, yet affordable blends in Bolgheri, I've had the Promis and also the Magari, but have yet to try the proprietary Ca'Marcanda.

When asked to describe Nebbiolo, Gaja responded
Cabernet is to John Wayne, what Nebbiolo is to Marcello Mastroianni. John Wayne is a strong personality. He speaks in a loud voice. Marcello Mastroianni would never be in the center of a room. He is shy. He is a closed book. And women become beautiful beside him. This is the beauty of Nebbiolo.