2015 Darmagi
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Tasting notes
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep crimson. Intense, piercing cassis fruit, the oak discreet on the nose though more present on the palate in chewy texture and dark chocolate. I can see the appeal of this wine but the Barbarescos are so much finer and more elegant. This is very well polished, well balanced, and nowhere near ready to drink. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Darmagi (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is gracious, medium in body and fragrant. In this vintage, Darmagi is decidedly medium in body, with more of a red-fruit leaning profile than in the past. Soft, silky and inviting, the 2015 has a lot to offer. At the same time, the 2015, while attractive, is not as varietally expressive as it can be in the finest years.
Darmagi loves a warm vintage. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Darmagi embraces the summer warmth like a happy sponge. This wine is faithfully true to the variety, with intensely dark fruit followed by dried cassis, exotic spice and green laurel leaf. There is a point of succulent sweetness in the mouth that is uniquely specific to this hot vintage. The wine is seamless and smooth in texture with solid structure on the close. The vines suffered from stripe disease (GLSD). This reduced the capacity of the plant's foliar system. Gaia Gaja tells me they were able to harvest from the healthy parts of the vines to make this beautiful wine.
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.