Winemaker Notes
Ruby red color. Aromas are dark, pure and very focused fruit with classic hints of tar, licorice, and a touch of truffles. On the palate, Sperss displays the austere character typical of Serralunga terroir: deep structure and lots of ripe tannins. Dense, massive yet seamless, the beautifully integrated wine possesses low acidity as well as a terrific finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba, the 2011 Langhe Sperss is a wine of profound beauty. This is a velvety and caressing expression with dark fruit layers followed by kirsch, cassis, leather, balsam herb and white truffle. The Gaja family decided to move their bottling date forward in order to preserve the integrity and freshness of fruit in this warm vintage. This move has helped to avoid overripe sensations. In fact, Langhe Sperss seems fresh and tonic. This bodes exceptionally well for its aging potential.
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James Suckling
Love the aromas of plums, flowers and dried mushrooms here. Wet soil and lavender too. Full body, firm tannins and a long, delicious finish. The combination of delicious fruit and velvety-textured tannins gives this wine form and structure.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Over the past decade, I have tasted many Gaja Sperss vintages; 2011—comprised of 94% Nebbiolo and 6% Barbera—strikes me as one in which the wine is decidedly richer and textured in style. Quite excellent, this wine requires some cellar time before it blossoms into the multi-dimensional wine it was meant to be. (Tasted: May 23, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
A mix of licorice, black cherry, vanilla, spice and tobacco aromas and flavors marks this intense red, which stays fresh and long, showing balance overall. All the elements are there, just needs time. Best from 2019 through 2033.
Attracting the most glory, prestige and fame to the Piedmont region, Nebbiolo in all of its expressions—Barolo, Barbaresco, Roero, Ghemme and Gattinara—creates a complex wine, truly unique for its delicate qualities combined with strength and a great potential to improve over time.
But Nebbiolo isn’t all there is to red wine from Piedmont! Barbera is the most planted variety and historically most popular as a dependable, food-friendly, everyday wine.
Beyond these two, a surprising number of red varieties call Piedmont their home. Worth a try include Dolcetto for its bold concentration and aromas of spice cake. Other grapes to investigate include Freisa, Croatina, Brachetto, Grignolino and Pelaverga.