2010 Gaja Sorì San Lorenzo
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| Type of Wine | |
|---|---|
| Country | Italy |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (14%) |
| Drink window | 2018 - 2040 |
| Available as of | Jan 16, 2026 |
Description
Hidden Cellar – exclusive selection of Grand Cru wines
The Hidden Cellar is Grand Cru's exclusive wine club concept, specially designed for our most loyal customers. You automatically become a member if you regularly order from Grand Cru. As a Hidden Cellar member, you'll have first access to a selection of exceptionally rare wines: vintages, iconic Bordeaux appellations and Burgundies, Italian Super Tuscans, Napa Valley wines, and rare Champagne. We can offer these gems directly from the wineries at very attractive prices, well below market. These are often wines that are no longer available or have become unaffordable. The wines come directly from the wineries and haven't traveled halfway around the world under uncertain circumstances. An overview of all the benefits can be found here .
Gaja Winery
Founded in 1859 in Barbaresco, the Gaja winery is one of Italy's most influential estates. Its style focuses on precision, terroir expression, and long aging. The vineyards are increasingly working according to organic and biodynamic principles, with a focus on balance and the vitality of the vines. In the cellar, the estate combines traditional Piedmontese methods with modern insights, focusing on purity, structure, and ageing potential.
More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.
Region, climate and location
Sorì San Lorenzo is located in the municipality of Barbaresco, in the heart of the Langhe region of Piedmont. The vineyard faces southwest and is one of the estate's warmer crus, but benefits from cool nights thanks to the influence of the Tanaro Valley. The 2010 growing season was characterized by long, cool ripening, which preserved acidity, aromatic tension, and a clear structure.
Single vineyard Sorì San Lorenzo
Since its first bottling in 1967, Sorì San Lorenzo has been a benchmark within Barbaresco. Compared to Costa Russi and Sorì Tildìn, this vineyard is known for its power and distinctive identity. This character is clearly evident in the 2010 vintage, with a combination of intensity, finesse, and balance. The wine clearly demonstrates why Sorì San Lorenzo is often considered the most complete of the three single-vineyard Barbarescos.
Vineyards
The vineyard is planted on limestone and clay soils with a pronounced mineral component. The vines have an average age of around fifty years, which contributes to low yields and deep rooting. These conditions create concentration and structure, without making the wine heavy or ponderous.
Grape varieties and composition
The wine is made entirely from Nebbiolo. Only grapes with optimal ripeness and healthy skins are selected. The focus is on a balance of acidity, tannins, and aromatic intensity, in keeping with the cool character of the vintage.
Harvest
The harvest took place after a long growing season, during which the grapes ripened slowly and evenly. The relatively low temperatures maintained high acidity and prevented overripeness. This resulted in grapes with clear aromatic definition and ripe yet firm tannins.
Vinification
Starting with the 2010 vintage, the winery adjusted its working methods. Old large barrels were replaced with new large wooden barrels and a portion of tonneaux. At the same time, the number of rackings was reduced and extraction was more carefully managed. This approach resulted in wines with greater precision and a purer fruit expression.
Maturation
The wine was aged in a combination of large wooden barrels and tonneaux. This aging process ensures integration of tannins and preservation of freshness, without the dominant influence of the wood. The focus is on slow development and structural refinement, making the wine suitable for extended bottle aging.
Color, smell and taste
The color is bright ruby red. The aroma reveals violets, lavender, plums, earthy notes, graphite, and subtle smoke. On the palate, the wine is powerful yet refined, with noticeably polished tannins and a tight, balanced structure. The finish is long, layered, and slowly building.
Development and drinking window
This Sorì San Lorenzo is currently in a phase where structure and freshness dominate. Further bottle aging will bring out more complexity and nuance. Since this is a wine over 15 years old, wine is a natural product and aging can vary from bottle to bottle. The drinking window runs from approximately 2018 to 2040.
Summary of professional reviews
Antonio Galloni awarded this wine 97 points, highlighting its powerful structure, clear vineyard expression, and excellent aging potential. Stephen Tanzer awarded it 95+ points, praising its nuance, inner tension, and exceptional length. Both reviewers consider 2010 a classic vintage characterized by precision and balance.
The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.
If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.
Wine and food pairings
- Roasted pheasant with mushrooms and sage, complementing the earthy notes and refined structure of the wine.
- Venison with cocoa and celeriac puree, which supports the depth, tension and length of the wine.
- Risotto with porcini and Parmesan, in which the umami and minerality of the Nebbiolo are particularly prominent.
- Braised pigeon with lentils and thyme, matching the spicy and earthy profile of the wine.
- Slow-cooked veal cheek with polenta and black truffle, which enhances the layering and maturity of this Barbaresco.
Specifications
| Available as of | Jan 16, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piemonte |
| Appellation | Barbaresco |
| Icons | Icon Italy |
| Winery | Gaja |
| Grape | Nebbiolo |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Drinking as of | 2018 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Vinous rating | 97 |
Professional Reviews
Vinous
7
Drinking Window
2018 - 2040
From: Gaja: Sorì San Lorenzo 1971-2011 (Nov 2014)
The 2010 Sorì San Lorenzo jumps from the glass with lavender, violets, plums, smoke and licorice, all in a lifted, precise style built on finesse. The tannins are remarkably sweet and polished for such a young wine. The pulsating fruit and sense of structure are reminiscent of the 1999, but here, there is perhaps a little more finesse and slightly more compelling balance.
- By Antonio Galloni on July 2014
Since its debut in 1967, Gaja’s Sorì San Lorenzo has established itself as one of the truly iconic wines in Piedmont and Italy. This recent vertical tasting provided a great opportunity to check in on a number of vintages, including most of the reference points.
95+
From: Barolo and Barbaresco (Nov 2013)
Good medium red. Wonderfully nuanced nose combines strawberry, wild herbs, flinty minerality, flowers and camphor, plus a whiff of oyster shell. Less obviously sweet than the Sori Tildin and seriously backward, displaying outstanding inner-mouth verve to the red fruit, graphite and earth flavors. This dense, suave, fine-grained wine is most impressive on the very long, slowly building finish. Clearly the product of a long ripening season.
- By Stephen Tanzer on November 2013
Never one to rest on his laurels, Angelo Gaja continues to fine-tune his viticulture and vinification with his two daughters and son.He actually mentioned the word "retirement" during my visit but it's hard to imagine this dynamo slowing down, much less standing aside for the next generation.Indeed, on my recent tour of the Langhe, two much younger winemakers at other estates mentioned not being able to keep up with Gaja on one of his vineyard walks.In 2008 Gaja got rid of his huge old casks and replaced them with big new casks, although he made it clear that he broke in the new barrels in '08 and '09 by using them "for the bad part of the wines."But with vintage 2010, he began using these barrels for his best wines and also introduced some tonneaux.With the 2011 vintage and especially 2012 Gaja is working more reductively and has cut the number of rackings for his big nebbiolo wines from four to two.He also plans to work entirely by gravity in 2013.Gaja is also moving steadily in the direction of biodynamic farming, although he does not believe that these techniques are a magic bullet."Bio is like a good windshield wiper," he told me."It can't keep the rain from falling but it helps you make your way."He describes 2011 and 2010 as having similar acidity (acid levels were higher here in years like 2006 ad 2001).Both years, he went on, produced wines with more acidity than tannins, while in 2009 it was the other way around.In fact, some 2009s can have underripe tannins, he noted.Gaja describes his big 2010 nebbiolo wines as "precise, but not opulent or austere," a description that could equally well apply to red Burgundies from the same growing season.
97
Drinking Window
2018 - 2040
From: Barbaresco 2010: Treiso Shines (Oct 2013)
Tar, smoke, licorice, incense, savory herbs, tobacco and new leather are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2010 Sorì San Lorenzo. The 2010 brings together all the best qualities of the vineyard in a huge, powerful style that is highly appealing. The pure intensity is classic San Lorenzo. This is by far the most site-representative of Gaja's three single-vineyard wines. Today the tannins are naturally imposing, but readers who can wait will be rewarded with a magnificent bottle.
- By Antonio Galloni on October 2013
Gaja's 2010s mostly reflect the qualities of the long, cold growing season in their steely, reticent personalities. This is especially true in the Costa Russi, which is typically much more open and expressive young than it is today. In Sorì Tildìn power dominates over finesse, at least today. As is often the case, the Sorì San Lorenzo is the most important of the three-single vineyard wines from Barbaresco. Its personality seems to come through loud and clear regardless of the vintage. I expect the flagship wines will require at least a few years in bottle before they start to blossom.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
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Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
Wijnhuis
The history of winery Gaja starts in 1859, the year in which Giovanni Gaja, a local grape grower in Barbaresco, Piemonte, founded a wine company under his own name. A generation later, it is Angelo, grandfather of the current owner, who continues to make wine with the same determination as his father. He is supported in this by Clotilde Rey with whom he marries in 1905. They teach their scion Giovanni named after his grandfather so that as a winemaker you should not make any concessions; nothing should be at the expense of the quality of the wine.
In 1961 Giovannis son Angelo works in the family business. After graduating as an economist from the University of Turin and graduating from the School of Viticulture & Oenology in Alba, the young Angelo left abroad for an internship at wine farms in Bordeaux, Burgundy, along the Rin and in California. Full of fresh ideas, he had now returned to his native Piemonte. When Angelo Gaja took over his parents' company in 1970, he asked his old classmate and winemaker Guido Rivella to assist him. Together they implement a number of revolutionary changes for the region. For example, they sometimes reduce yields per hectare by up to half the number of liters allowed, they experiment with vinification methods, the planting of new - both red and white - grape varieties and pioneering ripening techniques. The results are astonishing and Gaja conquers the world with his beautiful Barbaresco's - the company's flagship.
The nebbiolo grapes for the Barbaresco of Gaja traditionally came from different vineyards. Angelos' father, grandfather and his father did just that before. Although young Angelo would not end this tradition, he launched a new line of Barbaresco's from a single vineyard. Interest in these experimental single vinyard wines became more and more popular. As a proponent of a dynamic, purely quality-oriented wine culture, the brilliant winemaker decides from 1996 to completely break with what he considers to be a conservative and restrictive Italian designation of origin. Only his traditional Barbaresco is still on the market as a prestigious DOCG. He deliberately 'declassifies' all other red single vineyard wines into regional Langhe Nebbiolo DOC. These are the Sorì San Lorenzo, the Sorì Tildìn and the Costa Russi. Gajas Barolo Sperss also underwent the same name change. With the exception of the Dagromis Barolo DOCG, Sito Moresco and Conteisa de Langhe also bear DOC. Langhe DOC is also on the label of his white toppers from Piemonte, the Rossj-Bass, Alteni di Brassica and Gaia & Rey. After all, for Gaja the abbreviation does not guarantee good quality of a wine but the name of the producer.
Hidden Cellar – exclusive selection of Grand Cru wines
The Hidden Cellar is Grand Cru's exclusive wine club concept, specially designed for our most loyal customers. You automatically become a member if you regularly order from Grand Cru. As a Hidden Cellar member, you'll have first access to a selection of exceptionally rare wines: vintages, iconic Bordeaux appellations and Burgundies, Italian Super Tuscans, Napa Valley wines, and rare Champagne. We can offer these gems directly from the wineries at very attractive prices, well below market. These are often wines that are no longer available or have become unaffordable. The wines come directly from the wineries and haven't traveled halfway around the world under uncertain circumstances. An overview of all the benefits can be found here .
Gaja Winery
Founded in 1859 in Barbaresco, the Gaja winery is one of Italy's most influential estates. Its style focuses on precision, terroir expression, and long aging. The vineyards are increasingly working according to organic and biodynamic principles, with a focus on balance and the vitality of the vines. In the cellar, the estate combines traditional Piedmontese methods with modern insights, focusing on purity, structure, and ageing potential.
More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.
Region, climate and location
Sorì San Lorenzo is located in the municipality of Barbaresco, in the heart of the Langhe region of Piedmont. The vineyard faces southwest and is one of the estate's warmer crus, but benefits from cool nights thanks to the influence of the Tanaro Valley. The 2010 growing season was characterized by long, cool ripening, which preserved acidity, aromatic tension, and a clear structure.
Single vineyard Sorì San Lorenzo
Since its first bottling in 1967, Sorì San Lorenzo has been a benchmark within Barbaresco. Compared to Costa Russi and Sorì Tildìn, this vineyard is known for its power and distinctive identity. This character is clearly evident in the 2010 vintage, with a combination of intensity, finesse, and balance. The wine clearly demonstrates why Sorì San Lorenzo is often considered the most complete of the three single-vineyard Barbarescos.
Vineyards
The vineyard is planted on limestone and clay soils with a pronounced mineral component. The vines have an average age of around fifty years, which contributes to low yields and deep rooting. These conditions create concentration and structure, without making the wine heavy or ponderous.
Grape varieties and composition
The wine is made entirely from Nebbiolo. Only grapes with optimal ripeness and healthy skins are selected. The focus is on a balance of acidity, tannins, and aromatic intensity, in keeping with the cool character of the vintage.
Harvest
The harvest took place after a long growing season, during which the grapes ripened slowly and evenly. The relatively low temperatures maintained high acidity and prevented overripeness. This resulted in grapes with clear aromatic definition and ripe yet firm tannins.
Vinification
Starting with the 2010 vintage, the winery adjusted its working methods. Old large barrels were replaced with new large wooden barrels and a portion of tonneaux. At the same time, the number of rackings was reduced and extraction was more carefully managed. This approach resulted in wines with greater precision and a purer fruit expression.
Maturation
The wine was aged in a combination of large wooden barrels and tonneaux. This aging process ensures integration of tannins and preservation of freshness, without the dominant influence of the wood. The focus is on slow development and structural refinement, making the wine suitable for extended bottle aging.
Color, smell and taste
The color is bright ruby red. The aroma reveals violets, lavender, plums, earthy notes, graphite, and subtle smoke. On the palate, the wine is powerful yet refined, with noticeably polished tannins and a tight, balanced structure. The finish is long, layered, and slowly building.
Development and drinking window
This Sorì San Lorenzo is currently in a phase where structure and freshness dominate. Further bottle aging will bring out more complexity and nuance. Since this is a wine over 15 years old, wine is a natural product and aging can vary from bottle to bottle. The drinking window runs from approximately 2018 to 2040.
Summary of professional reviews
Antonio Galloni awarded this wine 97 points, highlighting its powerful structure, clear vineyard expression, and excellent aging potential. Stephen Tanzer awarded it 95+ points, praising its nuance, inner tension, and exceptional length. Both reviewers consider 2010 a classic vintage characterized by precision and balance.
The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.
If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.
You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.
Wine and food pairings
- Roasted pheasant with mushrooms and sage, complementing the earthy notes and refined structure of the wine.
- Venison with cocoa and celeriac puree, which supports the depth, tension and length of the wine.
- Risotto with porcini and Parmesan, in which the umami and minerality of the Nebbiolo are particularly prominent.
- Braised pigeon with lentils and thyme, matching the spicy and earthy profile of the wine.
- Slow-cooked veal cheek with polenta and black truffle, which enhances the layering and maturity of this Barbaresco.
| Available as of | Jan 16, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type of Wine | Red |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Piemonte |
| Appellation | Barbaresco |
| Icons | Icon Italy |
| Winery | Gaja |
| Grape | Nebbiolo |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2010 |
| Drinking as of | 2018 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 14 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| Vinous rating | 97 |
Vinous
7
Drinking Window
2018 - 2040
From: Gaja: Sorì San Lorenzo 1971-2011 (Nov 2014)
The 2010 Sorì San Lorenzo jumps from the glass with lavender, violets, plums, smoke and licorice, all in a lifted, precise style built on finesse. The tannins are remarkably sweet and polished for such a young wine. The pulsating fruit and sense of structure are reminiscent of the 1999, but here, there is perhaps a little more finesse and slightly more compelling balance.
- By Antonio Galloni on July 2014
Since its debut in 1967, Gaja’s Sorì San Lorenzo has established itself as one of the truly iconic wines in Piedmont and Italy. This recent vertical tasting provided a great opportunity to check in on a number of vintages, including most of the reference points.
95+
From: Barolo and Barbaresco (Nov 2013)
Good medium red. Wonderfully nuanced nose combines strawberry, wild herbs, flinty minerality, flowers and camphor, plus a whiff of oyster shell. Less obviously sweet than the Sori Tildin and seriously backward, displaying outstanding inner-mouth verve to the red fruit, graphite and earth flavors. This dense, suave, fine-grained wine is most impressive on the very long, slowly building finish. Clearly the product of a long ripening season.
- By Stephen Tanzer on November 2013
Never one to rest on his laurels, Angelo Gaja continues to fine-tune his viticulture and vinification with his two daughters and son.He actually mentioned the word "retirement" during my visit but it's hard to imagine this dynamo slowing down, much less standing aside for the next generation.Indeed, on my recent tour of the Langhe, two much younger winemakers at other estates mentioned not being able to keep up with Gaja on one of his vineyard walks.In 2008 Gaja got rid of his huge old casks and replaced them with big new casks, although he made it clear that he broke in the new barrels in '08 and '09 by using them "for the bad part of the wines."But with vintage 2010, he began using these barrels for his best wines and also introduced some tonneaux.With the 2011 vintage and especially 2012 Gaja is working more reductively and has cut the number of rackings for his big nebbiolo wines from four to two.He also plans to work entirely by gravity in 2013.Gaja is also moving steadily in the direction of biodynamic farming, although he does not believe that these techniques are a magic bullet."Bio is like a good windshield wiper," he told me."It can't keep the rain from falling but it helps you make your way."He describes 2011 and 2010 as having similar acidity (acid levels were higher here in years like 2006 ad 2001).Both years, he went on, produced wines with more acidity than tannins, while in 2009 it was the other way around.In fact, some 2009s can have underripe tannins, he noted.Gaja describes his big 2010 nebbiolo wines as "precise, but not opulent or austere," a description that could equally well apply to red Burgundies from the same growing season.
97
Drinking Window
2018 - 2040
From: Barbaresco 2010: Treiso Shines (Oct 2013)
Tar, smoke, licorice, incense, savory herbs, tobacco and new leather are some of the many notes that emerge from the 2010 Sorì San Lorenzo. The 2010 brings together all the best qualities of the vineyard in a huge, powerful style that is highly appealing. The pure intensity is classic San Lorenzo. This is by far the most site-representative of Gaja's three single-vineyard wines. Today the tannins are naturally imposing, but readers who can wait will be rewarded with a magnificent bottle.
- By Antonio Galloni on October 2013
Gaja's 2010s mostly reflect the qualities of the long, cold growing season in their steely, reticent personalities. This is especially true in the Costa Russi, which is typically much more open and expressive young than it is today. In Sorì Tildìn power dominates over finesse, at least today. As is often the case, the Sorì San Lorenzo is the most important of the three-single vineyard wines from Barbaresco. Its personality seems to come through loud and clear regardless of the vintage. I expect the flagship wines will require at least a few years in bottle before they start to blossom.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...
Exclusive Content
Sign in to unlock professional wine reviews from world-renowned critics
The history of winery Gaja starts in 1859, the year in which Giovanni Gaja, a local grape grower in Barbaresco, Piemonte, founded a wine company under his own name. A generation later, it is Angelo, grandfather of the current owner, who continues to make wine with the same determination as his father. He is supported in this by Clotilde Rey with whom he marries in 1905. They teach their scion Giovanni named after his grandfather so that as a winemaker you should not make any concessions; nothing should be at the expense of the quality of the wine.
In 1961 Giovannis son Angelo works in the family business. After graduating as an economist from the University of Turin and graduating from the School of Viticulture & Oenology in Alba, the young Angelo left abroad for an internship at wine farms in Bordeaux, Burgundy, along the Rin and in California. Full of fresh ideas, he had now returned to his native Piemonte. When Angelo Gaja took over his parents' company in 1970, he asked his old classmate and winemaker Guido Rivella to assist him. Together they implement a number of revolutionary changes for the region. For example, they sometimes reduce yields per hectare by up to half the number of liters allowed, they experiment with vinification methods, the planting of new - both red and white - grape varieties and pioneering ripening techniques. The results are astonishing and Gaja conquers the world with his beautiful Barbaresco's - the company's flagship.
The nebbiolo grapes for the Barbaresco of Gaja traditionally came from different vineyards. Angelos' father, grandfather and his father did just that before. Although young Angelo would not end this tradition, he launched a new line of Barbaresco's from a single vineyard. Interest in these experimental single vinyard wines became more and more popular. As a proponent of a dynamic, purely quality-oriented wine culture, the brilliant winemaker decides from 1996 to completely break with what he considers to be a conservative and restrictive Italian designation of origin. Only his traditional Barbaresco is still on the market as a prestigious DOCG. He deliberately 'declassifies' all other red single vineyard wines into regional Langhe Nebbiolo DOC. These are the Sorì San Lorenzo, the Sorì Tildìn and the Costa Russi. Gajas Barolo Sperss also underwent the same name change. With the exception of the Dagromis Barolo DOCG, Sito Moresco and Conteisa de Langhe also bear DOC. Langhe DOC is also on the label of his white toppers from Piemonte, the Rossj-Bass, Alteni di Brassica and Gaia & Rey. After all, for Gaja the abbreviation does not guarantee good quality of a wine but the name of the producer.
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