Winespectator 95
Dark ruby red. Lots of blackberry and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a superfresh palate. It is still mouthpuckering, with layers of ripe and powerful tannins. This needs time.--1997 Italian blind retrospective. Best after 2010.
Parker 94 Punkte
Gaja's 1997 Barbaresco is undoubtedly the finest he has yet made. An exquisite effort, it boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to an extraordinary nose of black cherry liqueur, smoke, licorice, mineral, and floral aromas. The wine is full-bodied, opulent, and loaded with fruit. Despite its precocious nature, there is abundant tannin, and thus 3-4 years of cellaring is required. It should age effortlessly for 25 years.
Falstaff 94 Punkte
14% Kraftvolles Rubingranat, zarter Wasserrand, in der Nase sehr feine Weichselnote, zart rauchig, intensives Baumöl, etwas Balsam, Kokos, am Gaumen komplex, frische Säurestruktur, mächtiges Tanninkleid baut sich auf, extra jugendlich, feiner rotbeeriger Nachhall, zarte Erdbeernoten im Nachhall, sehr gute Länge. Toll!