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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Costa means slope in Italian and is often used in the names of vineyard designated wines. In wine-growing parlance, it denotes the side of a hill that faces the sun. Russiwas the nickname of the previous estate owner, who oversaw the vineyard management of this historic and privileged growing site. This 10-acre vineyard which lies in the township of Barbaresco was purchased in the winery's 1967 expansion of its vineyard holdings. GAJA's Costa Russi is known for the elegance and refinement of its aromatic character and likes its single-vineyard counterparts, will age gracefully for 40 years of more in outstanding vintages.
Wine Information
Hillside Wines
Harvesting of the three individual vineyards usually begins with Sori Tildin. Angelo bought the parcel in 1967 and named it after his grandmother, Clotilde Rey. The south-facing, sunny hill, sori in Italian, is always washed over by a light breeze. It is the highest of all the vineyards and, thanks to its location and inward-turned hill formation, it offers a very warm microclimate for the grapes.
The eponymous wine has refined fruity notes and is the most open of the three single-vineyard wines. Also Sori San Lorenzo, which Angelo bought already in 1964, faces the south. It is one of the family’s most beautiful vineyards. The wine from that vineyard has an aging potential of over 40 years, and the characteristic properties of the Nebbiolo are at their best here. Sori San Lorenzo is the strongest and most masculine wine of the three.
It usually requires a bottle aging time of at least 10-15 years, whereas Sori Tildin is known for its more feminine, elegant quality. Costa Russi, located at a lower altitude than Sori Tildin, has a cooler microclimate. Bought at the same time as Sori Tildin, Costa Russi is only a stone’s throw away. All three single-vineyard Barbarescos share their grape blend: 95% Nebbiolo and 5% Barbera.
Vuosikerta 2000
The new millennium inspired the pioneers of Italy’s wine revolution to set their sights on new regions. It was interesting to see how Antinori invested so heavily in Apulia, and Gaja in Tuscany's Maremma. In Italy the field has been joined by a large number of new small-scale producers, which have the capital to realise ambitious aims, with the assistance of top consultants.
The first vintage of the new millennium turned out to be a rather good one. Both in Piedmont and Tuscany, 2000 was a crop year of extreme proportions. The weather was very unpredictable, demanding a great deal of work on the plantations. The warm spring resulted in early blooms, which was followed by a fine, balmy period that boded well for a large crop. But July brought with it chilly, rainy weather. A hot and dry August neatly remedied the situation and record temperatures were posted in Piedmont. At the end of August plantations were barraged with hailstorms. The 2000 wines are softer than the 1996s and resemble the more mature vintages of 1997 and 1999. In Tuscany this vintage was a good one throughout the region.