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Perhaps the most influential individual in Italian wines over the last 30 years has been Angelo Gaja. Strikingly profound and often fit to live for decades, Gaja's wines display opulence and elegance. When collectors consider Italian wines for their cellar, Gaja is one of the first names they purchase. His wines (along with those of his father and grandfather) have a long-established track record, insuring the wines will perform well when opened, as well as on the auction block. Costa Russi, which was the third cru Barbaresco to take its place in the portfolio (1978), inspires a new lexicon, headlined by terms such as accessible, overt, and generous. Elegance and crystal purity characterize this complex and densely woven wine, which possesses an aging potential of decades. From the 1996 vintage on, Costa Russi has been classified as Langhe DOC, and not listed as Barbaresco DOCG due to the addition of Barbera.
- Country: Italy Region: Piemonte Sub-Region/Appellation: Langhe Rosso
While rooted in the tradition of the Langhe, Angelo Gaja has enriched this foundation with an open-minded sensibility that marries traditional practices and technological innovation, thereby extending Piemontes international reach. His philosophy recognizes the Nebbiolo grapes inherent capacity for creative expression, which enables it to accommodate the markets desire for both oak-driven and tannic styles. (That said, however, it is important to note that his wines are never obfuscated by over-extraction or oak.) Though he has his detractors, their opposition has proved innocuous, as Gajas wines rival the worlds most acclaimed and sought-after bottlings. While regarded as expensive on release, they continue to appreciate, trading at premium prices and invariably elevating the price standard in Piemonte.T In fact, his fathers 1961 Barbaresco may be the most profound bottling of its designation ever to be produced. The Gaja name represents a legacy of quality that has evolved since the family emigrated from Spain over 300 years ago.
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