Angelo Gaja : Sperss 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Angelo Gaja's Sperss 2021

Tasting Notes

Colour
The Sperss 2021 displays a deep ruby colour with garnet highlights, a sign of fine concentration and a youthfulness that remains intact. The brilliance and density of the colour hint at a wine built for ageing.

Nose
The nose is intense and complex, blending black and red fruits (black cherry, blackcurrant, wild plum) with floral notes of rose and touches of candied citrus. Ferrous, smoky and lightly spiced nuances complete this refined bouquet, evoking the distinctive minerality of the soils of Serralunga d'Alba.

Palate
On the palate, this Barolo immediately asserts its presence with a dense, vertical structure, carried by firm yet ripe, finely woven tannins. Vibrant acidity brings freshness and tension, while a saline, mineral note accompanies pure, concentrated fruit. The finish is long and persistent, extending into mineral and lightly spiced touches.

Food and Wine Pairing

Thanks to its assertive tannic structure and aromatic richness, this Barolo is an ideal match for roasted or braised red meats, game, and mushroom-based dishes such as risotto with porcini or truffles. It also pairs beautifully with aged hard cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

We recommend serving the Sperss 2021 in a large red wine glass at a temperature between 16 and 18°C, after decanting to allow its aromas to fully unfold. Its dense tannic structure and vibrant acidity give it fine ageing potential in the cellar.

A Barolo from Serralunga d'Alba by Angelo Gaja, Balancing Power and Minerality

The Estate

Founded in 1859 in Barbaresco, in Piedmont, Angelo Gaja has established itself as one of the benchmarks of the region's qualitative renewal. Under the leadership of Angelo Gaja, and today his children Gaia, Rossana and Giovanni, the independent family estate combines tradition and innovation, with a strong focus on Nebbiolo and a growing commitment to biodiversity and adaptation to climate change.

The Vineyard

The grapes for this Barolo come from the Marenca and Rivette sites in the commune of Serralunga d'Alba. These south-west-facing parcels, at an altitude of around 300 metres, sit on clay-rich calcareous marl soils, ideal for the expression of a powerful, structured Nebbiolo with excellent ageing potential.

The Vintage

The 2021 vintage was marked by a rather cool spring, followed by a balanced, sunny summer without excessive heat. These conditions allowed for slow, even ripening of the grapes, favouring great aromatic purity while preserving fresh, vibrant acidity.

Vinification and Maturation

The Sperss 2021 is the result of a maceration and fermentation lasting approximately three weeks in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine then undergoes a two-stage maturation: twelve months in French oak barriques, followed by a further twelve months in large oak foudres, before several months of rest in bottle. This double maturation gives the Sperss 2021 a dense yet velvety tannic framework, as well as profound aromatic complexity.

Grape Variety

This Barolo is made from Nebbiolo, the emblematic grape variety of Piedmont, grown in the terroirs of Serralunga d'Alba.