The 1979 Gaja Costa Russi is really a lovely bottle of fully mature Barbaresco, with lovely, tertiary layers of autumnal complexity still nicely balanced by fresh fruit and lovely structure. The deep, complex and very classy nose offers up a blend of cherries, coffee, forest floor, orange peel, a nice touch of porcini, roasted gamebirds and a beautiful, gently smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is fullish, complex and perfectly resolved, with a nice core of fruit, superb soil signature, melting tannins and lovely focus and grip on the long, complex and very classy finish. Fine juice.