GAJA
Costa Russi Barbaresco DOP
The word Costa indicates the side of a hill, while Russi was the nickname of the old sharecropper who worked in the vineyard.
The Costa Russi vineyard is situated in the municipality of Barbaresco, at the foot of a hill where, a little above, there is Sorì Tildìn. The land, facing southwest, consists of clayeycalcareous marls and covers a surface of 4.35 hectares, with an average altitude of 230 m above sea level.
- Region
- Piedmont
- Appellation
- Barbaresco DOP
- Varietal Composition
- Nebbiolo
- Aging
- 24 months in oak.
- Alcohol
- 14%
In the Costa Russi, there is an abundance of strawberries, and plums, all showing in a very pronounced way. As the wine opens, there are broader notes of raspberry, red currant, pepper, verbena, elderflower, and marzipan. The palate starts with a hint of sweetness with a round mouthfeel. The finish is elegant.
Wine Advocate
95 Points
2022
"The Gaja 2022 Barbaresco Costa Russi shows a pronounced floral element with violets and lilac that give this wine a special sense of finesse and grace. This is the fundamental character of Costa Russi (as compared to the mineral-driven Sorì Tildìn and the more powerful Sorì San Lorenzo), and it shines through even in a robust vintage such as this. The heat and the sunshine of 2022 has ripened aromas of blue currant and plum; however, the Costa Russi remains incredibly fine-tuned and delicate throughout."
— Monica Larner, 2025
Wine Spectator
94 Points
2022
"Macerated cherry, strawberry and plum fruit is offset by rose hip, juniper and earth notes in this dense red. Feels balanced, ending with a crisp impression of apple skin. There’s a lot going on, but this needs time to knit together."
— Bruce Sanderson, 2025
