Costa Russi 2017 6x75cl

• 75cl bottle

The Costa Russi nose is generous, floral and sweet with intense aromas of rose and violet, blood orange, red berries, liquorice and turmeric. The palate is fleshy, loaded with red and dark berry notes, such as mulberry, red currant, black cherry. The soft and round tannins balance the good acidity. It is the most inviting and generous of the three Gaja single vineyards.

Vineyards

The Costa Russi vineyard is situated in the municipality of Barbaresco, at the foot of a hill where, a little above, sits Sorì Tildin. The land, facing south-west, consists of clayey-calcareous marls and covers a surface of 4.35 hectares, with an average altitude of 230 m above the sea level. The vines are 65 years old on average.

Vintage

2017 is a vintage of “concentration”. Winter and spring were dry and mild (230 mm of rain from May 1st to October 1st) therefore bud break, ripening period and harvest turned to be anticipated of a couple of weeks. Luckily the spread of diseases has been almost absent. Given these peculiar conditions, the aim of both the vineyard management and the winemaking approach were focused on safeguarding freshness and balance of the wines. Thankfully at the beginning of September, 50 mm of rain decreased the temperatures and helped to reach a full ripeness of grapes even if slightly irregular. The early harvest started on August 7th and finished on September 15. The quantity resulted in a 40% decrease of the production due to the small size of bunches and green harvest. We handled the grapes with particular care, applying extremely soft pressing of bunches and shortening the maceration process. The wines show a complex aromatic profile and high acidity, with intense fruity, spicy, botanical and mineral aromas and flavours. The red wines feature a bright and intense colour along with a concentrated, powerful, yet balanced character. Overall, 2017 resulted in a vintage of extremely low production combined with great quality level.

Winemaking

Fermentation and maceration for around three weeks followed by ageing in oak for 24 months. .

Enjoy with:

• Grilled and Roasted Red Meats
• Pizza/Pasta
• Casseroles/Stews
• Mature Strong Cheeses

Perfect with roasted meats.