Darmagi loves a warm vintage. The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Darmagi embraces the summer warmth like a happy sponge. This wine is faithfully true to the variety, with intensely dark fruit followed by dried cassis, exotic spice and green laurel leaf. There is a point of succulent sweetness in the mouth that is uniquely specific to this hot vintage. The wine is seamless and smooth in texture with solid structure on the close. The vines suffered from stripe disease (GLSD). This reduced the capacity of the plant's foliar system. Gaia Gaja tells me they were able to harvest from the healthy parts of the vines to make this beautiful wine. - ML

Black currant, blackberry, violet, thyme and toasted spice aromas and flavors highlight this tightly wound red. The structure is as much about vibrant acidity as dense tannins, finishing long. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2021 through 2033. 150 cases imported. - BS

The 2015 Darmagi (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is gracious, medium in body and fragrant. In this vintage, Darmagi is decidedly medium in body, with more of a red-fruit leaning profile than in the past. Soft, silky and inviting, the 2015 has a lot to offer. At the same time, the 2015, while attractive, is not as varietally expressive as it can be in the finest years. - By Antonio Galloni on August 2018