2009 2008 2007 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
Principessa Gavia Gavi 2009
Aromas of minerals, anise, clove and grapefruit rind; big melon flavor and pleasant lingering tropical fruit finish; very clean and tasty. Recommended
The Wine Buzz - August, 2010
Principessa Gavia Gavi 2008
The light straw color offers lemon and melon aromas opening to round, fruity citrus and pear flavors. Vibrant acidity and pleasant creamy notes carry through the dry finish. Highly recommended.
Dave DeSimone - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Gold Medal
Sandestin Wine Festival
Principessa Gavia Gavi 2007
The legend behind Gavi- a crisp and refreshing white form Northwestern Italy- involves a princess, a soldier and a clandestine marriage that ends happily ever after. How perfect for Valentine's Day.
A Good Glass of Wine
Relish Magazine - February, 2009
Principessa Gavia Gavi 2005
"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 - 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 - January, 2007
Light, floral, crisp white.
Peter M. Gianotti - Newsday - December, 2006
"Light, floral, crisp white."
Peter M. Gianotti - Newsday - 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 - September, 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 - 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 - January, 2007
Principessa Gavia Gavi 2004
". . . vivacious with brisk acidity and soft fruit."
Dick Rosano - The Washington Post - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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, 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, 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
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
Principessa Gavia Gavi Vintage Not Specified
...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) - April, 2007
...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 - September, 2005