1999 Angelo Gaja Sori Tildin RP--95 WS--94

Wine Spectator: 94 Points
Score: 94 Release Price: $340 Current Auction Price: $189 Country: Italy Region: Piedmont Issue: Nov 30, 2003 Designation: Collectibles Starts off a bit earthy but then turns to glorious, freshly cut flowers, with hints of crushed berries. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long, caressing finish. Very refined. A special style for Sor� Tild�n. Best after 2008. 1,050 cases made. �JS

Robert Parker: 95 Points
In the Cellar # G7 May 2006 Antonio Galloni 95 Drink: 2011 - 2029 $200-$450 1999 Langhe Sori Tildin�The 1999 Sori Tildin is a knockout wine. It offers a classic, expressive nose of flowers and spices and somewhat austere profile of sweet red fruit, minerals and menthol on a mid-weight frame. It is the hardest of these wines to read today, but I found myself coming back to it often and discovering new nuances with each taste. It is clearly a wine of much potential and should start to drink well in another few years and last until age 25-30. It will be a fascinating wine to follow. 95/drink after 2011, 03/06 As always, the house style is very much present in the wines. Beginning in 1996 the Langhe wines contain a small amount of Barbera (between 5-8%) which Gaja says is added to give the wines additional acidity. Vinification remains fairly traditional by today�s standards. Fermentation and maceration last about three weeks. For the Barbaresco the fermentation takes place at a temperature of roughly 82*F (28*C). Gaja uses a slightly different approach for his �crus� Sori San Lorenzo, Sori Tildin, Costa Russi, Conteisa, and Sperss, for which the temperature during fermentation is lowered to 64*F (18*C) after the first week. All of the wines undergo malolactic fermentation in barrique. The wines then age one year in barrique and a second year in cask. For his Darmagi Gaja employs a shorter fermentation lasting 10-15 days. The wine sees 6-8 months in barrique followed by one year in large oak casks.