Expect dark cherry, dried rose, tar, leather, tobacco, dried herb, and refined oak with full body, structured tannins, and bright acidity. The 2010 vintage produced age-worthy, classically structured wines.
- Varietal
- Nebbiolo (100% — Sperss is technically labeled Langhe DOC rather than Barolo DOCG, but it's sourced from Serralunga d'Alba in the Barolo zone)
- Region
- Italy / Piedmont / Serralunga d'Alba (Barolo zone, labeled Langhe DOC)
- Body
- Full
- Style
- dry red, structured, age-worthy, iconic, top-tier Piedmont
The producer
Gaja is one of Piedmont's most prestigious producers, founded in 1859 and led for decades by Angelo Gaja. Sperss (meaning "longing" or "nostalgia" in Piedmontese) is one of Gaja's two flagship Nebbiolo bottlings (along with Conteisa), sourced from Serralunga d'Alba. Gaja chose to label it Langhe DOC rather than Barolo DOCG starting in 1996, though it returned to Barolo DOCG designation in 2013 — making the 2010 a "Langhe" vintage from a transitional era.
What critics say
Sperss consistently receives scores in the high-90s from major critics and is regarded as one of Italy's most prestigious wines. The 2010 vintage in Barolo is widely regarded as one of the great vintages of the modern era.
Pairing
Truffled pasta, braised lamb shank, hard aged cheeses