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$GAJA
2008 Gaja, Barolo, Sperss
Bottle size (ML)
Current price
$1,426
Start Your Wine Collection with 2008 Gaja, Barolo, Sperss
Begin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.- Enjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
- Get expert advice on when to hold and when to sell.
Critics Scores
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2008 Sperss is exotic, dark and totally seductive. Black cherries, mint, licorice, flowers, spices and juniper berries meld together in the glass, all supported by firm, insistent tannins. Today the Sperss has begun to shut down in bottle. It isn't anywhere near as expressive as the Conteisa, but that will come in time. There is so much to look forward to, but readers will have to be patient. In time, the 2008 Sperss will be yet another viscerally thrilling wine. Sperss is made from the Marenca and Rivette vineyards in Serralunga. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.
Wine Spectator
There's a lot of toasty oak framing the black cherry, tobacco and spice flavors in this suave, powerful red. Balanced overall, with plenty of fruit, but needs time to integrate more fully. Displays a fine mix of fruit and spice on the aftertaste. Best from 2016 through 2035.
Wine Enthusiast
Gaja's Sperss was once a Barolo but now occupies a category all its own as a Nebbiolo from the Langhe region—the producer famously declassified his top wines. This shows extreme elegance and sophistication with fine nuances of forest fruit, spice, dried tobacco, licorice and Spanish cedar. The finish is long, polished and bright. Drink after 2020.
James Suckling
This has a crazy intensity with a big hit of new wood but loads of ripe yet subtle fruit, from plums to dark berries. Full and chewy with round tannins and a long, persistent finish. Turns to licorice and spice in the aftertaste. Better in 2016.
Region Summary
Critics and collectors have anointed Piedmont (or Piemonte locally) the “Burgundy of Italy,” and with good reason. The region shares a border with France and has adopted many of its neighbor’s more modern winemaking philosophies. Today, local winemakers display a borderline-obsessive focus on small-batch, artisanal wines such as Barolo and Barbaresco.
Why We're Investing
There’s a not-so-secret recipe to produce highly collectible wine. It’s called the law of supply and demand. Piedmont is one of the few regions to have mastered it. Let’s start with supply. Piedmont has earned comparisons to Burgundy for its rarity and exclusivity. Estates primarily produce single-grape wines in minuscule quantities from specialized vineyards. Nebbiolo is the grape of choice in Piedmont, whereas Burgundy favors pinot noir. Take Barolo, for example, an ultra-age-worthy nebbiolo known as the ‘wine of kings and king of wines.’ The sub-region, which produces a wine of the same name, spans fewer than 5,000 acres. That is roughly the size of Burgundy’s Côte de Nuit. Barbaresco is even smaller at one-third the size. Because of the compact geographic area and estates’ commitment to small-scale winemaking, even the most popular Barolo and Barbaresco are constantly in limited supply. The second factor is demand. Like Burgundy, Piedmont has strung together multiple outstanding vintages, most notably in 2010, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Critics have taken note, too. In an interview with Liv-ex, Antonio Galloni said, “interest for Barolo and Piedmont has never been higher.” Glowing critic scores have led to a swell in demand for Piedmontese wine, especially for internationally renowned names like Gaja and Giacomo Conterno. Now, here is where the similarities between Burgundy and Piedmont end. While Burgundy dominates any list of the most expensive wines, Piedmont remains relatively affordable and under the radar. That’s despite the two regions’ comparable critic scores, wine quality, and centuries of tradition. Top Barolo and Barbaresco are roughly a quarter of the price of red Burgundy and half the price of first-growth Bordeaux. The reason? Most of the vineyards in Piedmont are family-owned. Meanwhile, other prominent wine regions, like Napa Valley and Tuscany, have grown through corporate investments that have resulted in corresponding price surges. This dichotomy makes Piedmont an enigma. Even though the region has some of the world’s top cult estates, most of its wines have relatively affordable price tags and attractive value. As a result, anyone looking to access the fine wine market without spending a fortune can take solace in Piedmont.
What's the Latest
Tuscany has long been the bellwether of the Italian fine wine market. That’s changing. Piedmont continues to gain market share thanks to its brand strength and consummate quality. According to Liv-ex, Piedmont accounts for 43.4 of Italy’s total trade, a figure that was a mere 11.4 in 2015. The surge in interest has corresponded with a rise in prices for top Piedmontese wine. The Liv-ex Italy 100 index recorded 9.2 growth in 2022, the third-best market among all indices last year. That’s no fluke, either. The Italy 100 has grown 303 in its first 19 years, which translates to an average annualized return of 7.58.
Looking Forward
Piedmont may be small, but it is mighty. It has all the hallmarks of an investment-worthy region, including brand equity, consistent quality, and low volume. Each year, more critics and collectors recognize that Piedmont’s top wines are on par with elite ones in France and California, and the prices have followed. Collectors would be wise to add Piedmontese wines while prices remain accessible. Piedmont has made impressive strides in the last decade and should benefit from technological innovations like transparent marketplaces and automated trading. This modernization would bring more attention to the region and improve liquidity. If volume and value continue their upward trend, look for Piedmont to close the gap on Tuscany in trade share in the coming years.