1995 tends to be a good rather than great vintage in Piedmont, but Gaja's sensational 1995s are among the stars of the vintage. This wine possesses extremely saturated dark ruby/purple colors, almost atypical for Nebbiolo. The 1995 Barbaresco Sori San Lorenzo offers tell-tale cigar tobacco, spice box, and cedar with black currant and cherry fruit in the background. The new oak plays a subtle role. Structured and noticeably tannic, this is a dense wine with surprising levels of glycerin, a saturated plum color, and intriguing flavors of black fruits, soy, and cedar. Although accessible, it needs more bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2016. Importer: Vinifera Imports, Ronkonkoma, NY; tel. (516) 467-5907

International in style to the extent that it's amazingly dense and filled with silky, ripe, fat tannins that just balloon on the palate, but it's clearly Piedmontese in all that mineral, blood orange, lead-pencil and intriguing red- and blackberry character. Refined and elegant despite its full-bodied, rich personality. Slightly smoky, toasted complexity on the blackberry-packed finish. Drink now through 2015. 650 cases made.??–PM??Region: Italy / Piedmont / Barbaresco Select to Add