2008 Darmagi
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Darmagi (Cabernet Sauvignon) is gorgeous. It shows terrific richness and density with plenty of varietal character and personality, all in a highly attractive, medium-bodied style. Plums, black cherries, cassis and sweet herbs flow gracefully as the wine shows off its irresistible personality. Darmagi is tricky because it is more sensitive to vintage than most of Gaja's other wines. The 2008, though, is striking.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Darmagi (Cabernet Sauvignon) is gorgeous. It shows terrific richness and density with plenty of varietal character and personality, all in a highly attractive, medium-bodied style. Plums, black cherries, cassis and sweet herbs flow gracefully as the wine shows off its irresistible personality. Darmagi is tricky because it is more sensitive to vintage than most of Gaja's other wines. The 2008, though, is striking. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. Getting to the top in any field is hard. Staying at the top is even harder. For all of the praise Angelo Gaja and his family have received over the years, they have earned and deserve every bit of it. These new releases, the 2008 reds from Barolo in particular, are insanely beautiful. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604 8900
Medium red-ruby. Medicinal black cherry, cassis, wild herbs and menthol on the nose, with some sweet oak showing. Thick and lush in the mouth but very backward and built for the long haul. Much darker in its fruit character than Gaja's wines from the Barolo and Barbaresco zones. Finishes juicy, oaky and long, with a fine dusting of tannins.
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.