Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | Italy > Piedmont > Barbaresco |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
I love the mineral, berry and raspberry aromas, with a light mint undertone. Full-bodied, round and unctuous, with fine tannins and a long, ripe fruit aftertaste. Firm and tight. Forget this in the cellar for a long time. As great as the 1996. Best after 2007. 800 cases made.
The opaque ruby/purple-colored 1997 Costa Russi (10,000 bottles produced) displays a striking bouquet of blackberry and cherry fruit intermixed with espresso and wood scents. Typically the most internationally-styled Gaja offering, the 1997 comes across as a Nebbiolo on steroids. Full-bodied, gorgeously pure and symmetrical, it should be at its best between 2002-2025. A genius for sure, Angelo Gaja can not be faulted for what he puts in the bottle. This work of art is worth every cent it will fetch.
At this stage, the 1997s look to be the finest wines Gaja has ever made. My enthusiasm is obviously due in part to the stylistic preference I have for more opulently textured wines with lower acidity and thus a broader window of drinkability. True to form, the 1997 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a fruit-driven offering, with elements of sur-maturite. This low acid, fat, decadently rich, succulent example is extremely ripe with notes of black raspberries, blackberries, and spice. It will be drinkable upon release and will last for two decades.