Barbaresco Costa Russi 2022, Gaja, 1x1500ml

Vendor:Cellar Select

Barbaresco Costa Russi 2022, Gaja, 1x1500ml

£1,095.00

For many in Piedmont, 2022 was a challenging vintage as it was exceptionally hot and dry. In fact, trying to find anything about 2022 that wasn’t related to stress, sunburn, drought, or very difficult growing conditions is a challenge in itself. However, the Gaja family are renowned for their meticulous vineyard and cellar management, over-indexing on vineyard employees who operate in very small teams each responsible for small plots that they know intimately. That Gaja approach pays off in vintages like 2022, where most wine producers struggled with sunburnt grapes Gaja performed a double harvest, first removing sunburnt or damaged grapes or foliage, then ensuring the fruit that was picked was perfectly healthy. Thanks to their history of intense Massal selection, the vines are not only resilient but thrive under pressure. 2022 may be a vintage to forget for many producers, but Gaja were so pleased with their vines performance in 2022 that they produced all three single vineyards, with all of the wines passing their incredibly strict criteria. In truth, the Gaja Barbaresco 2022s are not only incredible wines, they are proof that investing more pays off – your cellar may not be full of 2022 Barbaresco, but these wines are worthy of a space and will be standouts with which you can confidently challenge the perceptions of the critics of 2022 vintage.  

Key Facts 

Heritage: The Gaja family has been producing wines in Piedmont, Italy, for over 350 years, since 1859, carrying a legacy of five generations of winemaking excellence in the Langhe hills. 

Leadership in Barbaresco: Giovanni Gaja propelled Gaja wines to national acclaim, raising the profile of Barbaresco wines and expanding with renowned vineyards like Sorì Tildìn, Costa Russi, and Sorì San Lorenzo. 

Exclusively Estate-Grown Wines: Gaja wines are made exclusively from family-owned vineyards, ensuring complete control from soil quality to finished bottle. 

Tradition Meets Innovation: Angelo Gaja, who joined the winery in 1961, introduced bold innovations while maintaining deep respect for the Langhe’s winemaking traditions, introducing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Banc to the region, as well as pioneering single vineyard winemaking in Piedmont. 

Environmental responsibility: Each single vineyard is fostered uniquely as an individual ecosystem where different forms of life co-exist and the purpose is to fully understand the interactions of nature to protect, nurture and grow life. 

Barbaresco: The wine that best represents the identity of the Gaja family, and a region that the Gaja family played a pivotal role in building into the iconic symbol of quality that it is today and not just the overlooked neighbour of Barolo. 

Costa Russi: Costa = Hillside and Russi = the nickname of the old farmer who worked this vineyard. A 4.35ha single vineyard, 230m above sea level, predominantly compacted clay, cooler climate at the foot of the vineyard. Typically fresh, floral, herbaceous, and with a lifted fruitiness.  

Sorí Tildín: Named in honour of Angelo’s grandmother, whose nickname was Tildin. A 3.8ha vineyard, 260m above sea level, with more sand presence and rich in magnesium. This is the warmest of the three single vineyards and is often dark fruited and voluptuous. 

Sorí San Lorenzo: Sori refers to the south facing hillside, and San Lorenzo is the saint said to protect the cathedral in Alba. This is a 3.38ha vineyard with clay-calcareous marls with predominantly limestone soil, 250m above sea level. This wine is typically powerful, earthy, and deep. 
 
The Gaja family settled in Piedmont - northwest Italy - in the mid-seventeenth century. Five generations of Gajas have been producing wines in Piedmont’s Langhe hills since 1859, the year Giovanni Gaja, a local grape grower, founded the Gaja Winery in Barbaresco.

Giovanni’s son, Angelo (grandfather of today’s Angelo Gaja), was blessed with ambition and vision. Clotilde Rey, whom he married in 1905, inspired him to establish the tradition to which the Gajas have adhered ever since - total dedication to uncompromising quality. Angelo and Clotilde’s son, Giovanni, continued to follow the high standards his parents had set, producing Barbarescos that were renowned throughout Italy. Thanks to his Barbaresco, the winery’s flagship, Gaja wines achieved a leadership position in Italy. Giovanni increased vineyard holdings, acquiring Sorì Tildìn, Costa Russi, Sorì San Lorenzo and Darmagi, thereby permitting the Gaja family to produce wines of the highest quality exclusively from its own vineyards.

Giovanni’s son, Angelo, joined the Winery in 1961 and combined his respect for the traditions of the Langhe with bold innovations in the vineyards and the cellars. He also introduced Gaja wines to foreign markets. Angelo lives in Barbaresco with his wife Lucia and their three children, Gaia, Rossana, and Giovanni who represent the fifth generation. Together with their parents, Angelo and Lucia, they have been continuing a family tradition that has never stopped since 1859, when Giovanni Gaja founded the winery. Today, the Gaja Winery owns 96ha (240 acres) of vineyards in the Barbaresco district - Barbaresco and Treiso - and the Barolo district - Serralunga d’Alba and La Morra.  


N.B. This wine is not currently in stock but can be ordered, usually for delivery within a few weeks -  please email info@cellarselect.co.uk for availability and lead time, or it will be confirmed after an order is placed.
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Case: Original Wooden Case

Critic's Scores: 97 JD / 96 JS / 95 WA

Pack: 1x1500ml

Year: 2022

ABV (%):TBC

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