Gaia & Rey 2017

The wine in this vintage

2017 was hot and dry, with one of the earliest harvests in living memory; for whites the challenge was to retain freshness and balance. Gaia & Rey 2017 succeeds thanks to the elevation of its Treiso vineyards: ripe yellow fruit, apricot, candied citrus, acacia honey and sweet spice on the nose; a broad, rounded palate whose salinity balances its richness, and a warm, persistent finish. Antonio Galloni rated it 92 points. A sunny, generous Chardonnay, it drinks very well now and can be kept for a few more years. It pairs beautifully with creamy risottos, white meats and richer fish dishes.

The producer · Gaja

Founded in Barbaresco in 1859 by Giovanni Gaja, the estate has become, over five generations, the most recognised name in Piedmont. The turning point came in 1961, when Angelo Gaja joined the family business and transformed it: rigorous selection of estate vineyards, low yields, the introduction of barriques alongside large casks, near-obsessive attention to detail and an international outlook that carried Nebbiolo onto the world's finest wine lists. Today the house is run by his children Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni, who are pushing towards ever more sustainable farming focused on soil health and biodiversity. At the heart of the range are the great Barbaresco crus, Sorì San Lorenzo, Sorì Tildin and Costa Russi, joined by the Barolo Sperss from Serralunga d'Alba and Gaia & Rey, a Treiso Chardonnay that set a benchmark for white wine in the Langhe. The house style combines precision, elegance and remarkable longevity: wines that demand patience and reward it with rare complexity.

Critics' scores

• 92 Antonio Galloni

Technical details

Producer

Gaja

Region

Piemonte

Country

Italia

Type

Bianco

Vintage

2017

When to drink

Hold, still evolving

Critics' average

92/100

Sizes

75 cl, Magnum 150 cl, Case of 6 × 75 cl

eWibe code

0540217