Name: Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2017 750ml
Brand: Gaja
SKU: 887336
Price: 456.46 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94.8 (5 reviews)

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Winery

Gaja

Shop all from Gaja

Varietal

Nebbiolo

The Nebbiolo grape varietal is widely understood to be the fruit responsible for Italy's finest aged wines. However, its popularity and reliability as a grape which gives out outstanding flavors and aromas has led it to be planted in many countries around the world, with much success. These purple grapes are distinguishable by the fact that they take on a milky dust as they begin to reach maturity, leading many to claim that this is the reason for their unusual name, which means 'fog' in Italian. Nebbiolo grapes produce wines which have a wide range of beautiful and fascinating flavors, the most common of which are rich, dark and complex, such as violet, truffle, tobacco and prunes. They are generally aged for many years to balance out their characteristics, as their natural tannin levels tend to be very high.

Country

Italy

There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.

Region

Piedmont

Situated in the north-western part of Italy, the region of Piedmont is known worldwide and is highly respected for the quality of the wines produced there. Many of the most successful sub-regions in Piedmont produce many of the world's finest red wines, such as those made from the excellent Nebbiolo grape varietal in areas such as Barolo and Barbaresco. However, the historic wineries which typify this region use a relatively wide variety of grapes, including Dolcetto and Barbera for their red wines, which are typically aged and have a delightful velvety character. Piedmont isn't all about beautifully complex red wines, though, as it is also famed for high quality, elegant sparkling wines, notably the Asti wines made with the white Moscato grape. The region benefits from a range of terroirs which are often well expressed in the sparkling wines, and a wonderfully consistent climate ideal for vineyard cultivation.

Appellation

Barbaresco

Barbaresco, a jewel within Italy’s Piedmont region, is an illustrious wine appellation celebrated for its exceptional Nebbiolo wines. Nestled alongside the Tanaro River, its unique terroir, characterized by marl and calcareous soils, imparts a distinct finesse to the grapes. What sets Barbaresco apart is the Nebbiolo grape’s expression—marked by elegant tannins and a captivating balance between power and grace. The region’s temperate climate and significant diurnal temperature variation enhance the grape’s aromatic complexity. Barbaresco wines, with their notes of red berries, roses, and earth, offer a refined alternative to the robust Barolo. Recognized for their approachability in youth yet capable of impressive aging, Barbaresco exemplifies the artistry of Piedmontese winemaking, inviting enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of flavors and the inherent elegance of Nebbiolo.

JS 96pts

James Suckling

A pretty red with ripe-cherry, strawberry and floral aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and very tight with a creamy, polished palate that goes on for minutes. Very fine and polished tannins. Give this two or three years to come more together. Better after 2022.

WA 95pts

Wine Advocate

In terms of production numbers, this is one of the smallest vintages we've seen from the Costa Russi vineyard. Thanks to replanting efforts, about half of the old vines were ripped out in 2017 (compared to the 2016 vintage that made 10,000 bottles with the whole vineyard in production). The Gaja 2017 Barbaresco Costa Russi offers a warmer and softer character compared to Sorì San Lorenzo and Sorì Tildìn. Overall, the wine is richer and more textured. I definitely taste the vintage heat with its slightly sweeter and more accessible tones of cherry, cassis and fragrant blue flower. Costa Russi is usually defined by lifted notes of aniseed and sambuco, and you get those here too, although they are a less pronounced in this vintage. This is a balanced and carefully assembled Barbaresco with a lean approach backed by fine tannins and bright acidity.

WS 95pts

Wine Spectator

A dense and very tightly wound style, with the structure offering a firm grip on the well-defined core of rose, cherry, strawberry and currant flavors. Long and resonant on the finish, with an aftertaste of mineral, tobacco and earth. Best from 2023 through 2043. 300 cases imported.

VM 94pts

Vinous Media

The 2017 Barbaresco Costa Russi is gorgeous. Dark, layered and wonderfully inviting, the Costa Russi expresses the restrained style of the vintage and yet has terrific depth. Black cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and star anise build as this sumptuous, classically mid-weight Barbaresco shows of all of its pedigree. The 2017 is a lighter Costa Russi, there is no doubt about that, but this is also the most complete of the three single vineyard Barbarescos.

JD 94pts

Jeb Dunnuck

Falling in between the Sori Tildin and Sori San Lorenzo stylistically, the 2017 Barbaresco Costa Russi offers a ripe bouquet of mulled cherry and blackberry fruits intermixed with lots of balsamic, licorice, loamy soil, dried spices, and a touch of asphalt. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, elegant Barbaresco with broad, mouth-coating tannins, a solid core of acidity, and a great finish. As with all of these wines, it need lots of air to shed some austerity and pick up more sweetness in its tannins (which can be common for hot vintages) and is going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and have two decades of prime drinking.

Winery Notes

Vintages of this wine between 1996 and 2011 are labelled Langhe Costa Russi.

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Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi 2017 750ml

Case of 6

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