Review #175: Springbank 1997 Gaja Barolo 9
This is an interesting fine expression as it is not quite a finish and not the full maturation that Springbank will do. Barolo is a high tannin wine from Piedmont and Gaja is a producer. Having never had Gaja, I don't have much more on this. This spent 4 years in ex-bourbon before being transferred to Barolo wine casks for another 5. The first thing I noted was the light color for a red wine finish. I am curious to see how this plays out.
Color - Bunished
Nose - Sea breeze, prunes, vanilla, funk, orange zest, peach
Palate - Seawater, caramel, cane sugar
Finish - Medium - Tidal pools, heat, ginger, cigar box
Overall - 6 - This isn't my favorite Springbank. The nose is delightful but the palate and finish just get dominated by wood. I wonder if these wine casks are small, if they kept it in the original size as opposed to manufacture hogsheads out of the wine casks. Whatever it is, the wood gets a little too distracting on the finish. It also really fails to pick up wine notes for me. I would take take Springbank 12 CS or pay up for Longrow Red over this.
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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.
10 Best in Show
9 Great Dram for Special Occasions
8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection
7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood
6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle
5.5 I really enjoyed but it will never be priced at where I would buy a bottle
5 I would drink it happily if offered
4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks
3 Maybe some soda will make this potable
2 I'll Pass
1 Toilet cleaner
Inclusive Ratings
Overall 6.1
Standard Deviation 0.91
Skew 0.66
Kurtosis -0.16
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