Elegant muscular and totally focused a harmonious wine that marries its cedary plum black cherry violet and tar aromas and flavors smoothly and with definite style. Has the balance and sweet tannins to improve. Drink now through 1998. 877 cases made.

Among the three single vineyard Barbarescos the most aromatic and complex is the 1988 Sori San Lorenzo. This intense wine offers up a bouquet of spices vanillin herbs cedar and red and black fruits. While perfumed the tannins once again dominate. There is freshness full body and plenty of length. Despite the precocious bouquet this wine will not be at its best for 5-6 years; it should keep for 20 years.All of Gaja's 1988 Barbarescos are backward reserved wines. Even after sitting four days with the corks pulled they exhibited no signs of oxidation. While they should be uncommonly long-lived I did not see quite the flesh and richness possessed by such vintages as 1985 and 1982.Importer: Vinifera Imports Ronkonkoma NY.