1999 Gaja Langhe Sori San Lorenzo
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Sorì San Lorenzo is a modern-day classic. Freshly cut flowers, mint, chalk, bright red cherries and anise jump from the glass in a pure, crystalline wine endowed with magnificent tension and precision. Pulsating in the glass, the 1999 is all about energy and weightless precision. In that sense, the 1999 is a younger version of the 1982.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Daniel Thomases, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 1999 Sorì San Lorenzo is the only wine in this tasting that still appears young. Black cherries, plums, smoke, tobacco and tar emerge over time, but the 1999 is still not ready to show its best. Even though it has a solid core and plenty of intensity, the 1999 isn't as extroverted or powerful as some years, instead, it is the wine's finesse that stands out most. Multiple bottles have all shown similarly.
Dark ruby. Deep, powerful, and structured, the 1999 Sorì San Lorenzo is another great effort from Gaja. It displays a big brooding personality, defined by notes of tar, wet earth, cocoa and sweet dark fruit with notable expansiveness on the palate, although the wine remains quite backward. This shut down quickly in the glass and appears to be most youthful of these 1999s. Patience is clearly warranted.
The 1999 Sori San Lorenzo, the darkest of its three siblings, is the most potent of all, with a big, alcoholic push which drives the tar, roses, plums, and toasted oak. It has sizeable structure and important intensity, the richness and depth of extract and the balance of power and finesse are those of outstanding grapes and winemaking. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000
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.