Principessa Gavia Gavi

 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 
 

“A light and crisp wine, Gavi has pear and citrus flavors accented by floral, mineral and almond notes. The wine is fruity, fresh with a gentle acidity and balanced finish.”
- Cindy Kibbe - New Hampshire Business Review - 1 September 2005

...A white from Italy, is priced at $11.99 but tastes much more expensive. It is semi-dry, semi-sparkling with a rich buttery taste on the tongue. It is fresh and crisp with gentle acidity. To me it would be an ideal companion to fish, veal and chicken as well as Oriental cuisine.
- Kathleen Gibson - Star (SC) - 26 April 2007

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2005

“Fruity, fresh and floral in the aroma. Crisp and light in the mouth, this Italian white makes a good party wine.”
- Frank & Kate Sutherland - Tennessean - 24 January 2007

"Many critics will argue that Italian whites are too light, but it’s the delicacy of wines like this that appeals to us. Put it against a lightly adorned piece of fish and you have a winner. Made with Cortese grapes, it has a generous floral nose followed by simple apple flavors and good acidity."
- Tom Marquardt & Patrick Darr - Maryland Gazette - 31 January 2007

Fruity, fresh and floral in the aroma. Crisp and light in the mouth, this Italian white makes a good party wine.
- Frank & Kate Sutherland - Tennessean - 24 January 2007

Light, floral, crisp white.
- Peter M. Gianotti - Newsday - 20 December 2006

“Light, floral, crisp white.”
- Peter M. Gianotti - Newsday - 20 December 2006

"Made from the Cortese grape, doesn’t seem to get the attention that it’s due. It’s a favorite around Genoa in Northern Italy and would be a nice alternative to the ubiquitous Chardonnay that many of us reach for automatically. This example of Gavi has aromas of almond kernel and orange. The wine is dry, and its pepper, pear, and grapefruit flavors are crisp and fresh, yet it’s smooth on the mid palate with a pleasant finish. It would be a great choice for any shellfish or light seafood."
- Chris Sillman - Ten Nice Wines for Around Ten Bucks - Fall 2006

“A delightful fresh, lively, inexpensive all-purpose holiday white. The bright fruit flavors make it appealing as an aperitif, and its crisp minerality make it food-friendly too."
- Nick Passmore - Forbes.com - 11 November 2006

"Here’s a delightful thirst-quencher with enough personality to make it worth the price. The Principessa Gavia 2005 is moderately rich and spicy, with hints of lemon-lime and roasted lemon, and touches of grapefruit and dried herbs. It’s dry and crisp and flourishes some orange rind and almond and a trace of grapefruit on the finish. A Bargain, especially at $12 to $14."   Very Good
- Fredric Koeppel - KoeppelOnWine.com - 7 January 2007

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2004

". . . vivacious with brisk acidity and soft fruit."
- Dick Rosano - The Washington Post - 21 June 2006

“…has a more citrusy character of tangerine and lime, with rich, fleshy nectarine flavors and a subtle finish of almond and white grapefruit.”
- Lynne Char Bennett - San Francisco Chronicle - 27 April 2006

“The wine's laser-like acidity cleans the palate completely while offering delicate citrus flavors and light creamy touches. Try it as a lovely aperitif.”   Recommended
- Dave DeSimone - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 25 April 2006

“There's good acidity, plus floral qualities, in the 2004 Vigne Regali Principessa Gavia Gavi, a stylish, pale-straw bargain. Gavis are made with the delicate Cortese grape, a mainstay of Piedmont and grown in Lombardy, too. The Banfi Vintners import is versatile, especially good with seafood.”
- Peter Gianotti – Newsday - 12 April 2006

“Steely in its firm acidity and fleshy in its juicy nectarine and tangerine flavors, this Piedmont wine is full, rich and wonderfully balanced.”   * * *
- Linda Murphy - San Francisco Chronicle - 9 March 2006

“The wine's laser-like acidity cleans the palate completely while offering delicate citrus flavors and light creamy touches. Try it as a lovely aperitif.”   Recommended
- Dave DeSimone - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - 1 March 2006

“Light in weight, but slightly oily in texture, this Gavi packs in the basics: apple, pear and citrus fruit and a hint of almonds. Dry and citrusy on the finish, making it a candidate for seafood or assorted hors d’oeuvres.”   85
- Wine Enthusiast - March 2006

“This was another example of how the combination of dryness, crispness, and just the right amount of fruit all work together to lighten the fish. Additionally, the synergy between the wine and the salmon ended with a slight hint of bitterness, something that added a pleasant edginess to the match.”
- Paul Lukacs and Marguerite Thomas - Wine Review Online - 6 December 2005

“Light bodied and well balanced with clean, fresh aromas and flavors of apple, white pear, mineral, and citrus; clean, crisp finish. Delightful. Steamed clams or mussels.” Buy and serve youngest vintage available.
- Santé - November 2005

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2003

“Truffled bagna cauda: This Mediterranean-style dip would pair nicely with a northern Italian white wine from Piedmont called Gavi. It's made from the Cortese grape and has flavors of ripe apples, citrus fruits and a pleasant mineral quality to it. . . . It's an outstanding value.”
- Carolyn Jung - San Jose Mercury News - 28 December 2005

“Green melon flavors, both the fruit and the rind, carry through this succulent Gavi. It’s tight in the middle, softer in the finish, ready for fish and chips.”   88
- Wine & Spirits - 1 August 2005

“. . . 100 percent Cortese, showing floral-honeysuckle aromas, hints of jasmine and ripe apricots, and finishing with a crisp, clean, balanced aftertaste with gentle acidity…This white wine screams out for shellfish of any kind. It's also delightful with light chicken or veal dishes. The clean, simple grape flavors make this wine a good choice for an easy-going salad lunch or to ease your way into the evening.”
- Steven Dearinger - Amarillo Globe News - 6 April 2005

“Wonderfully user-friendly white, balanced equally well to serve on its own or with food.  Almond, citrus and white peach aromas and flavors, a plump, slightly custardy mouthfeel, and it finishes with a refreshing hint of citrus.” Best Buy   87
- Wine Enthusiast - 15 November 2004

“Light bodied and easy to drink with bright citrus flavors and palate-cleansing acidity.  Perfect aperitif on a warm summer day.” Buy & Serve youngest vintage available. Excellent by-the-glass choice.
- Santé - October 2004

“Excellent: delicately flavored (honeysuckle, honeydew), medium bodied, crisp and medium long on the finish.  Great value.  (2004-2005).”   * * * *
- Ronn Weigand - Restaurant Wine - August 2004

“Gavi, made from the Cortese grape in Piedmont, can be dull and flabby, like a waxy Chardonnay or light and fresh like a Pinot Grigio.  The best, I think, are somewhere in-between, with fresh, ripe pear and apple flavors and more body than a typical Pinot Grigio.  Principessa is easy to find and one of the best.  Unoaked and refreshing with lavender, par, green apple flavors and a nice fat mouthfeel to it that lends it some heft.”   * * *
- Tim Teichgraeber - Star Tribune - 15 July 2004

“Clean, clear, fresh and very fruity aromas.  Flavors of pineapple, green apple and crisp minerality.  This is a very friendly, very refreshing wine, a terrific find.”
- Dick Rosano - Fra Noi - June 2004

“. . . this charming Italian wine is light, fruity and dry.”
- John Griffin - San Antonio Express-News - 26 May 2004

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2002

"Super fresh, snappy, lip-smacking and almost sweet.  Is there mass appeal written on this wine?  You bet, what with sweetness interwoven into the pineapple, green apple and lime flavor profile. Even the finish has some layers and a band of complexity to accent otherwise pleasurable flavors." Best Buy   88
- Wine Enthusiast - 15 December 2003

"Light and crisp with pear and citrus accented by floral, mineral and almond notes.  Shrimp cocktail or other light appetizers. Buy and serve youngest vintage available."
- Sante - November 2003

"Pale straw hue.  Clean, crisp aromas of grapefruit, pear, mineral and an herbal note.  Lemony acidity drives lively, balanced flavors of green apple and grapefruit.  Sweet white peach surfaces in the spritzy close."   Best Value
- Wine News - October/November 2003

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2001

"Light lemon peel and sandalwood spice; crisp, delicate entry and good crispness to match with food. A good example of a fresh, lively Gavi..."
- Dan Berger's Vintage Experiences - July 2002

"Very pale straw in color, this wine has an attractive, forward nose of banana and apple. It's medium bodied and dry, with a nice mouthfeel and good acidity. On the palate, it delivers plenty of lemon-citrus flavor that lingers. It also has a good finish, with lemon-pith notes. A characterful white."
- TableWine.com - June 2002

Principessa Gavia Gavi 2000

"Very Clear. Fresh, crisp with excellent balance. Dry, with mouthwatering acidity. The best Gavi I have encountered. Very fine!"   91
- Shields Hood's Wine Notes - June 2002

"Considered the premier dry white wine of Italy, Principessa Gavi is fruity, fresh and crisp with a gentle acidity and balanced finish & is an ideal accompaniment for shellfish, veal and grilled chicken."
- J. Walman's Travel, Restaurante, Entertainment & Wine Report - February 2002

"...has a delightful citrus flavor with a clean, mineral-like feel on the palate. It is enormously refreshing for July and August weather, perfect with seafood salads, spicy Asian dishes, and a modest budget."
- John Foy - Bergen Record - July 2001

Principessa Gavia Gavi 1999

"Light yellow hue. Complex aromas of licorice, menthol and cedar. Very sweet flavors of peach nectar and lemon pie. Lingering sweetness with hints of yeast and malt in the finish."
- Wine News - October/November 2001

"Aromas of creamy, activated yeast and classic mineral notes. Rich, soft and silky, with mineral and chalk flavors; finishes with notes of stone fruit. A wonderful example of Gavi."
- Santé - June/July 2001

"...a good value and one of the best Gavis you'll ever find. Aromatic and flavorful, it's fresh, fruity and bone dry, with apple, pineapple, ginger and mineral notes on the palate, medium body, silky texture on the mid-palate, and crisp acidity through the long finish. Quintessential seafood wine."   88
- Epicurean - May/June 2001

"Wonderful for warm weather - the lemon, apple-pear, mineral crispness is very refreshing. A little sweet. Yum."   ***+
- AlcoholReviews.com - April 2001

"A bright but subtle nose that just hints at fresh pear and citrus. In the mouth it has a surprising amount of body and delicate apple and pear flavors fading into a waxy finish. Simple, but very balanced "   ***+
- Tim Teichgraeber - Minneapolis / St. Paul Star Tribune - March 2001

"...a crisp, very dry Italian white - is a terrific choice to serve with seafood ...offers clean, bracing flavors of lemon, slate and pears and an appealing freshness."
- Michael Dresser - The Baltimore Sun - February 2001

"The Cortese grape from Gavi makes a wine very reminiscent of a Chenin Blanc from Vouvray - light, fresh and dry, with citrusy overtones, a little spritz, smooth texture, and a long, tart, minerally finish. A great aperitif or seafood wine. A very reasonably priced Gavi."   86
- Epicurean - December 2000 / January 2001

Principessa Gavia Gavi 1998

"In the December 2000 edition of his Spirit Journal, the esteemed F. Paul Pacult rated the 1999 vintage of Principessa Gavi four stars, which, according to his scale, means "superb" and "of exemplary quality." No surprises there - we loved the 1998 Principessa Gavi. Two bottles were shared among five people, two wine snobs, three wine novices. All concurred - it was excellent, offering up vanilla, grapefruit and toast. Principessa Gavi offers terrific value..." ****+
- WineReviews.com - November 2000

"Fresh, crisp and clean, this is really what you should be looking for in an affordable, tasty bistro (oops, should we say trattoria) wine. A refreshing Cortese, with its lime and orange-rind flavor, and mild spritz; it does the job it's supposed to: it makes basic foods like salads, grilled chicken and shrimp taste better."   85
- Wine Enthusiast - April 2000

"The wine is a pale gold with faint greenish gold highlights, and has a clean bouquet with some lemony sage and spice too, though not from wood. On the palate it's round, and rather languid, with nice fruit, especially loquat, and a clean tart lemony finish. Will work well as an aperitif, with antipasti, vegetable-based pastas, and fish dishes; the finish is tart enough to work with fried foods, too."
- Italian Wine Review - Vol. 2000/1 #2

Principessa Gavia Gavi 1997

"Delicate floral nose, with pear, honey and olive oil. Well balanced, excellent citrus and apple flavors, with floral notes; clean, bright finish. Delicate, nicely made wine to go with appetizers, simply prepared white-fleshed fish or as a dry aperitif."
- Santé- June 2000

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