GAJA - DISTILLERIA DEL BARBARESCO DARMAGI GRAPPA

Angelo Gaja planted Cabernet Sauvignon on the Darmagi vineyard in Barbaresco in 1978 — a move so controversial locals called it "darmagi," Piedmontese for "what a pity." The pomace from those clay-silt soils goes directly into this grappa, distilled from Cabernet Sauvignon skins, seeds, and stems. Where most grappa rests in stainless steel, this one ages 24 months in oak, building vanilla, toast, and oxidative depth. The result: dark fruit, baking spice, a firm mid-palate, and a finish where oak tannins and fresh acidity balance cleanly.