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  • Country ranking ?

    173
  • Producer ranking ?

    34
  • Decanting time

    45min
  • When to drink

    Now to 2025
  • Food Pairing

Food Pairing

Roast Leg of Lamb with Mint Pesto & Mustard Crumbs

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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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 ...

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Tasting note

color

Medium, Cherry Red and Healthy

ending

Long, Gentle and Round

flavors

Blackberry, Vanilla, Coffee, Honey, Leather and Tobacco

nose

Intense, Opulent, Generous and Refined

taste

Balanced, Concentrated, Well-structured, Medium-bodied, Harmonious, Fruity, Fragrant and Silky tannins

Verdict

Sophisticated and Well made

Written Notes

Gaja Costa Russi 1978 – Barbaresco, Piedmont

The 1978 vintage in Piedmont ranks among the greats of the 20th century, producing Nebbiolos of power, purity, and extraordinary aging potential. For Gaja, it was historic: the first release of Costa Russi, completing the trio of single-vineyard Barbarescos that would establish Angelo Gaja as a modern master of the Langhe.

The bouquet is captivating, with classic Nebbiolo character—dried cherry, plum, and redcurrant interwoven with rose petal, tar, truffle, and hints of cedar, tobacco, and earthy spice. On the palate, it is structured yet elegant, with vibrant acidity and firm, resolved tannins framing layers of mature red fruit, savory notes, and mineral precision. The texture is silky but still commanding, showing both depth and refinement.

The finish is long and hauntingly complex, echoing dried flowers, spice, and earthy undertones. A landmark wine from a monumental vintage, the 1978 Costa Russi not only represents a piece of Gaja history but also stands as a timeless, world-class Nebbiolo. 97 points.


  • 97p
Good looking normal size bottle, in an perfect condition and has by the neck level. Colour is cherry red, and looking bright, healthy and medium. On the nose it is open, intense, refined, opulent, generous and charming. The taste is harmonious, fruity, fragrant, refined, with silky tannins, medium-bodied, with balanced, well-structured and concentrated structure. On the palate it is layered and has perfumed, vanilla, tobacco, blackberry, leather, honey, coffee and dried-fruit flavours. The finish is long, gentle, round and pure. This wine is sophisticated, fine and excellent. I paid around 500-1k€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 10-15 years and decant at least 45min before tasting. Good value for money.
- (Tasting note created by Tb's AI)
  • 96p
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Information

Origin

Barbaresco, Piedmont

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

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