“Darmagi” Rosso Langhe DOP 2022

Angelo Gaja | Piedmont
Az. Agr. Gaja | Via Torino 36 | IT 12050 Barbaresco

05233422 · 0,75 l · 625,33 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping< 24 units available

"Darmagi!" – the word echoed through the vineyards of Barbaresco like a curse in 1978. Giovanni Gaja, the tradition-conscious patriarch, could not believe his eyes: His son Angelo had actually dared to do it. Cabernet Sauvignon vines had been planted on the best Nebbiolo terrain, directly below the village of Barbaresco. French grapes! On sacred Piedmontese soil! "Che peccato!" – what a shame, what a pity, exclaimed the father in the local dialect. Darmagi, after all.

Angelo, the young revolutionary who had studied in Montpellier and learnt his trade in Bordeaux, just smiled. With his characteristic respect for family tradition – and a wink towards the future – he named this scandalous wine the same: Darmagi. The disgrace became a triumph. The irony became an icon. What began as an affront in 1978 became a revolution. Angelo had realised that Italy would only be perceived on a par with the great wine regions of the world if it could first hold its own on their terrain. A great Cabernet from small French barriques – that was the ticket. Only then, he was convinced, would the world recognise the indigenous treasures of Piedmont. The calculation worked out. Darmagi opened the door through which Barbaresco and Barolo marched into the world class.

The 2022, vinified from almost 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, comes from the legendary 2.5-hectare single-vineyard vineyard. After three weeks of mash fermentation and maceration, it matures for 24 months in oak. The result is a wine of a deep, dark, almost impenetrable colour: blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose, along with forest floor aromas, tree bark and a hint of iodine, wrapped in sweet wood notes. On the palate, 2022 is velvety and elegant, the tannins fine-grained and silky, the acidity lively, the structure flawless. Black cherry, pickled cassis, plum – all embedded in a texture that combines power with finesse. Darmagi is more than just a wine. It is a statement. Proof that courage pays off. And that sometimes the greatest things can come from a so-called disgrace. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2022 Darmagi is another fabulous wine in this range from the Gaja family. Aromatic and vibrant to the core, the 2022 dazzles from start to finish. I have never tasted a Darmagi with this much textural finesse. Part of the approach in 2022 involved removing some of the skins after the initial vinfication. Dark red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and graphite all meld together in the glass. Polished tannins remind me of young Lafite." Vinous