Gaja – Conteisa – 1998

The Gaja family settled in Piedmont in the mid-seventeenth century, five generations have alternated since Giovanni Gaja founded the winery in Barbaresco, with the entry into the company of his son Angelo and his wife Clotilde the true production of quality wine begins. From 1937 his son Giovanni made Barbaresco his flagship wine gaining a leading position on the Italian market, he introduced the philosophy, which the company still carries on today, that is to bottle only the best vintages and increased the owned vineyards through the purchase of Costa Russi, Sorì Tildin, Sorì San Lorenzo and Darmagi sites, thus consolidating a further improvement in production. The real turning point for the company came with the entry into the company in 1961 of Angelo Gaja who, thanks to his foresight and his spirit of innovation, succeeded in affirming the knowledge of Barbaresco throughout the world. In 1972 a trip to America was fundamental for his training, and back in his Barbaresco he decided to plant chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon, in an excellent position as a nebbiolo, thus conquering the international markets. In 1994 the Gaja family bought the Pieve S. Restituita winery in Montalcino and in 1996 bought a second property in Tuscany, in Bolgheri, where they founded the Ca ‘Marcanda winery. The philosophy of the company is to contribute with its work to beauty and environmental health, the care of the vineyards is obsessive and begins with the preservation of the oldest vines, mass selection carried out on historic vineyards, such as the processing of the land as well the winemaking is inspired by respect for nature and its times, traditional wisdom and innovative research. The Conteisa vineyard is located in Cerequio, in the municipality of La Morra, the soil denotes a high presence of sand and clayey-calcareous marl, the vines have an average age of 60 years, according to family tradition the choice of names is not it never coincides with that of the original cru. It differs from Sperss for its more floral and delicate part with fresh and balsamic notes, the body is voluptuous and the tannic texture is harmonious and integrated. High aging potential. 1998 is the fourth of seven very good vintages in Langa, it is a happy year. It is not just a matter of climatic success – it is difficult to say which is the best of the last four – its beauty lies precisely in the profile of the resulting wine and its great aging potential.

• Producer: Gaja
• Name: Conteisa
• Grape Variety: 92% nebbiolo, 8% barbera
• Vintage: 1998
• Alcohol Content: 14%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Productive Notes:fermentation and maceration for about 3 weeks, followed by aging in wood for 30 months.