This wine rocked my world. The Gaja 2021 Langhe Darmagi is Cabernet Sauvignon from 3.5 hectares of vines planted in 1978. The first vintage made was 1982. Despite the ongoing battle with Esca disease, this is definitely one of the best, if not THE best, vintage made. "It's a Cabernet that speaks in the Piedmontese dialect," says Rossana Gaja. Her family has long experience with this grape both in Piedmont and in Bolgheri, Tuscany, where it is featured at the family's Ca' Marcanda estate. I love the luscious, compact richness of the wine that feels virtually seamless to the senses. There is generous black fruit with smoke, ash and spice over an elegant full-bodied texture and chalky tannins. (ML)

A deep purple saturated color, the 2021 Darmagi is ripe and lifted with notes of graphite and blackberries. Schedule to be bottled in July, it offers great balance of sweetness on the palate, and I like the nerve this wine carries, with a note of alpine herbs that lifts it. Revealing sweet, ripe tannins, notes of espresso, and a long finish, it will drink well 2026-2056. (AF)

The 2021 Darmagi is seriously beautiful. The 2021 is substantial from start to finish, dark, somber and deep. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, incense, licorice and espresso saturate the palate. At this stage, the Darmagi is dominated by its intense fruit, while more varietal notes linger in the background. (AG)