Barolo & Barbaresco Wine Tour with a Sommelier
We will start our day in the historical center of Neive, a small medieval hilltop town. One of the towns of the Barbaresco wine area and one of Italy’s top 5 most beau...
Profile
Structure
Drinking window
Latest scored vintage 2021: best 2029 to 2056.
vintage8 yrs35 yrs37 yrs
Critic scores
| Critic | Vintage | Score |
|---|---|---|
| James Suckling reviewed 2024 | 2021 | 97/100 |
| Jeb Dunnuck reviewed 2024 | 2021 | 97/100 |
Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.
In the glass
Aroma: strawberry, plum, raspberry, red currant, elderflower, marzipan
Palate: wild strawberry, licorice, polished stone
The most charming and aromatic of Gaja's Barbaresco crus, Costa Russi pairs an abundance of strawberry and red fruit with verbena and marzipan, silky tannin and an elegant finish.
What it pairs with
- Roast guinea fowl Delicate game meets the cru's perfumed red fruit without overwhelming it.More wines for chicken and white meat →
- Agnolotti del plin in butter The wine's elegant red-fruit lift carries the meat-stuffed pasta's richness.More wines for pasta with ragù →
- Toma piemontese Mild alpine cheese frames the wine's strawberry and elderflower.More wines for cheese →
With cheese
How to serve Gaja Costa Russi
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Roast guinea fowl, Agnolotti del plin in butter, Toma piemontese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Costa Russi debuted with the 1978 vintage from a four-hectare parcel just below Sori Tildin. The name joins costa, meaning slope, with Russi, the nickname of the vineyard's former sharecropper.
- 1978First single-vineyard Costa Russi vintage
- 2013Returned to Barbaresco DOCG label
Facts
- Producer
- Gaja · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Nebbiolo (100%)
- Classification
- Barbaresco DOCG
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 550 to 1100 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8 to 35 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1978
Frequently asked about Gaja Costa Russi
What does Gaja Costa Russi taste like?
On the nose, strawberry, plum, raspberry, red currant, elderflower. On the palate, wild strawberry, licorice, polished stone. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The most charming and aromatic of Gaja's Barbaresco crus, Costa Russi pairs an abundance of strawberry and red fruit with verbena and marzipan, silky tannin and an elegant finish.
When should I drink Gaja Costa Russi?
Drink 8 to 35 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Gaja Costa Russi?
Roast guinea fowl is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Agnolotti del plin in butter and Toma piemontese. Delicate game meets the cru's perfumed red fruit without overwhelming it.
What grapes are in Gaja Costa Russi?
The blend is Nebbiolo (100%). The wine is classified as Barbaresco DOCG.
Tags
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