Pieve S. Restituta | Angelo Gaja

Medium ruby red. Opulent bouquet of small red berries, especially redcurrant, somewhat herbal. Then full and harmonious on the palate, with pleasant fresh brightenings and a nice texture of cherries, forest floor and herbs. A stable framework of acidity and tannin leads into a persistent and long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

Rennina 2015 builds up on the palate in several layers: sensual fruit, paired with multi-layered impressions of forest soil, spices and tanned leather. On the palate it is soft and yet powerful, yet balanced, with an impeccable structure, underpinned by harmonious acidity, and with an extract sweet, almost feminine finish. Very appealing and a perfect reflection of a perfect vintage with the corresponding potential for the next decade. SUPERIORE.DE

"Astringent, firm, somewhat dried vegetable to tobacco and a little woody aroma of ripe, partly preserved black and red berries with a little dried herbs, plums, minerality and almost fleshy tones. Very firm in the mouth, ripe, juicy berry and cherry fruit, very slightly plummy tones, nutty and moderately woody tones, a little tobacco and tar, present, ripe, still very youthful tannin, dense and persistent on the palate, deep, multi-layered, yet hardly developed, restrained power, a little cocoa and pepper in the background, much melting, but also grip, compact build, very good to long, firm, tart finish with salty and smoky tones." Wein-Plus

"lush ruby with a slight garnet tinge. Rich and intense nose of plums and blackberries, some liquorice. Deep and powerful at the beginning, opens with present, dense tannin, in the final firm pressure." Falstaff

"Tasted blind. Deep ruby with bright orange tinges. Subdued, brooding, perfumed dark fruit with hints of pine. Eye-catching sweet-sour cherry fruit and juicy acidity with the tannins adding considerable muscle." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is dark and powerful in the glass, slowly opening with a display of crushed stone, cedar, mint, and a dusting of cumin, as its dark red fruits begin to unfurl in a captivating display. On the palate, silky textures offset tart cherry and blackberry fruits, balanced by a core of rounded tannins and lifting acidity, as hints of licorice and sweet herbal tones develope. The finish is medium in length and poised, showing fine-grain tannins beneath a sheen of polished red and black fruits, with hints of lavender lingering on. The 2015 Rennina is a classy wine that’s just begging for a few years in the cellar to fully blossom." Vinous

"Aromatic, evoking wild herb and balsamic notes of juniper, thyme and pine, along with flavors of black cherry, plum and iron. Firmly structured and fresh, offering a long, complex aftertaste. Unfolds pleasantly and maintains balance." Wine Spectator

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is beautifully balanced and elegant. The wine is successfully streamlined and focused on the nuanced characteristics of the otherwise warm and sunny 2015 vintage. Rennina is often considered to be the more lithe and graceful of Gaja's two Brunellos. The bouquet opens to pretty berry nuances, blue flower, lavender, grilled herb and powdery licorice. Despite the more delicate approach, Rennina delivers ample power in the mouth with fresh acidity and tight tannins. I'd suggest opening this bottle at the 10-year mark." Wine Advocate

"Extremely perfumed and pretty with dried berry, orange peel and fruit tea on the nose. Full-bodied, extremely tight and refined with superb tannin quality that shows polish, finesse and beauty. It goes on for minutes on the palate. One for the cellar. Best wine ever from here. Needs three or four years to come together." James Suckling

Rennina from the dream year 2016 is a proud parade drop - everything is in the right place here and, what's more, so much more for the real connoisseur. Deep, almost impenetrable ruby red. Initially rather closed nose with mineral notes and a hint of oak sawdust. As it progresses, then gravel road, mint and hints of caraway. On the palate then fleshy, powerful, with concentrated sour cherry fruit and a present but never intrusive tannin. Despite a certain opulence, it is a balanced wine that - away from the mainstream - is guaranteed to find its friends who will give it the necessary understanding, plenty of experience and also patience. SUPERIORE.DE

"Flower of raspberries, of hot stone and bitter chocolate, wood used with pinpoint accuracy; the attack powerful yet round, with plenty of polished tannin and an opulent finish. Combines richness and elegance." Vinum

"Rich, sparkling ruby with a fine garnet rim. Compact nose with notes of ripe raspberry and plum, followed by cold smoke and leather. Juicy ripe fruit on the palate, lots of grippy tannin, plus sweet melting, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Both of Gaja's cru Brunello demonstrate the generous warmth and salty breezes of the Tavernelle zone in Montalcino's central southwest. Rennina, which is assembled from three plots surrounding the church after which the winery is named, is the more extroverted of the two. Still patently young in its structure and fruit, it is vivaciously scented with an explosion of garden herbs, juniper, liquorice and summer berries. Powerful, rich fruit is hemmed in by polished yet copious tannins. Quite a fully charged, boisterous Rennina, this will need some time to tame." Decanter

"Aromas of espresso, clove and licorice mingle with balsamic notes of camphor. Elegantly structured, the focused, linear palate offers dried cherry, blood orange and star anise framed in firm, close-grained tannins that grip the finish." Wine Enthusiast

"A top note of mint graces the cherry, plum and tar flavors in this tightly packed red, which feels balanced overall, despite the strapping tannins, with a lingering, sanguine- and iron-tinged finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is a dark and youthfully understated beauty. A gorgeous display of tobacco and savory herbs gives way to tart cherries, currants, brown spice and earth tones, gaining further richness the longer it spends in the glass. It's seamless, elegant and silky in feel, with layers of ripe red fruit offset by dried citrus, as notes of black tea, licorice, hints of olive and saturating minerals settle in. There's so much going on here; yet beneath its polished elegance, a layer of fine tannins penetrates deeply, making for a dry and structured finale." Vinous

"The Pieve Santa Restituta 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina offers intensity and beautifully concentrated fruit. The bouquet reveals layers of wild cherry, rose, blue flower and candied orange peel. However, if you are expecting a more subdued Rennina, that's not what you get in this classic 2016 vintage. The wine is buzzing with energy and vitality, with a lifted and an especially brilliant set of aromas. You might also detect a hint of fresh peppercorn or coriander seed that gives the wine a veil of the exotic." Wine Advocate

"Some much shaved black truffles to the blackberry, walnut and chocolate undertones. It's full-bodied and layered with chewy yet soft tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Smoke, mahogany and wet-earth undertones. Needs three or four years to soften and come together." James Suckling

Sugarille has always been the most aristocratic of the three Brunellos of the house. Especially in the dream year of 2016, when everything was right for an exceptional wine. If the 2015 is the representative of the rather warmer style, this edition here is hard to beat for coolness, distinction and finesse. On the palate, a dense core of primary fruit, excitingly surrounded by a salty-mineral vein that we otherwise only find in Giacomo Neri's Tenuta Nuova. This wine awakens the imagination, because it never reveals too much of itself, but opens up slowly at first, then in good proportion with a mysterious depth and race, flanked by direct and linear tannins, which round off the polyphonic palate concert excellently. Simply great! SUPERIORE.DE

"Complex berry aromas, aromas of flowers, undergrowth and leather; in the mouth pithy, lots of acidity, lots of breed, still youthful but finely spun tannins, the finish long and fruity. Perfectly built Brunello that convinces with its richness of facets." Vinum

"Shiny, rich ruby with garnet rim. Exciting and complex nose with notes of dark forest raspberries, plum, plus some blood orange and cardamom. Very compact and grippy on the palate, shows hearty tannin, lots of pressure, plus ripe, dark fruit, can still store for a long time." Falstaff

"From a single, southwest-facing vineyard on clay and limestone soil rich in Galestro, the 2016 Sugarille is large-framed but poised. With a brooding character, it is shaded by tobacco, smoky incense and grilled sage. The palate contributes mineral graphite notes and dense black plum, while muscley tannins keep everything resolutely in check." Decanter

"Violet, new leather, camphor and spiced plum aromas are front and center on this fragrant red. Boasting structure and elegance, the full-bodied palate delivers Marasca cherry, cranberry, licorice and a hint of espresso alongside tightly wound, close-grained tannins." Wine Enthusiast

"Notable for its ripe black cherry, blackberry, earth, spice and iron flavors, this red also possesses a formidable structure. Bracing acidity and monolithic tannins both exert their influence, yet this comes together nicely on the lingering finish. Needs time." Wine Spectator

"The Pieve Santa Restituta 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille opens to the dark, fruity intensity that defines this five-hectare site with schistous clay galestro-rich soils. Sugarille always shows more heft and density, and this impression is amplified in a balanced vintage such as 2016. But with the memory of the 2015 vintage fresh in my mind, I feel that this edition is slightly lither and more streamlined in terms of mouthfeel. The tannins are direct and linear." Wine Advocate

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is a sleeping giant. Cool-toned, poised yet wonderfully elegant, it lifts from the glass with a gorgeous display of lavender and purple-tinged florals before giving way to crushed stone, blackberries and a hint of sour citrus. It's silky and soft with a dense core of primary fruits, which creates a monolithic feel today yet tempts the imagination with what's to come. Brisk acids, salty minerals and fine-grained tannins combine, adding clenching grip yet also further depths, tapering off to hints of tobacco and spiced orange. Its scale is large, yet so is its potential, as this well-muscled Brunello is geared for the cellar and sure to make a lot of people happy over the next ten to twenty years." Vinous

"Plenty of black cherries, cedar, dried flowers and red cherries on the nose, following through to the palate, which is dense and compressed with gorgeous, intense fruit and chewy yet integrated tannins. Very, very impressive red here." James Suckling

A modernist by the book. Balanced and impressive at the same time. 2018 Rennina with powerful aromas and flavours of violets, black cherries, tobacco and menthol. The tannins are firm yet beautifully integrated. Rennina is a complex, medium-bodied wine, which has a great positive influence on its ageing potential and makes it a success story. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shiny ruby-garnet. Finely marked nose with notes of raspberry and goji berries, liquorice in the background. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, lots of tightly woven tannin embedded in beautiful melting, unfolds smoothly, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

Rennina" combines three neighbouring plots with different soils, all of which contribute to the final expression. The sandy soil, rich in marine fossils, produces elegant fragrances, while the Galestro delivers structured tannins. A captivating bouquet captures the dusty landscape and sweet, oily herbs of Tuscany. Flavours of cherry and violet saturate the palate, and beautifully integrated oak joins the long, chalky tannins. Spicy and sweet on the finish." Decanter

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is delicate and unobtrusive in the glass with a pleasant earthy blend of dried strawberry, rose and clove nuances. It embraces a silky fruit texture with a core of vibrant acidity and salty minerals in an unbound Brunello of pure elegance. It finishes with ample tannins but also remarkable freshness that lingers on notes of red plum, mocha and tobacco. This harmonious vintage of Rennina will develop beautifully in collectors' cellars." Vinous

"Harmonious and with an almost creamy texture, this red wine shows aromas and flavours of cherry, raspberry, plum, clay, almond and black pepper. On the finish, it shows a pleasant bitterness that lasts until the end." Wine Spectator

"Rennina, made from fruit from three vineyards with very different soil profiles, maintains its distinct personality with elegant aromas of red fruits, wild berries, cassis, balsamic herbs and toasted almonds. This vintage shows hints of baked clay or black olive, highlighting the warm conditions of the vintage. The wine is generous in mouthfeel, with a lovely richness that remains graceful at the same time." Wine Advocate

"Complex, wild and energetic with an intellectual array of fresh truffles, blackberries, bark, cardamom, dried porcini mushrooms, miso and rosemary. Full-bodied yet agile, with firm, taut tannins and sharp acidity. Powerful and dense. Needs a few years to open up. Taste after 2025." James Suckling

Sugarille is always a little darker, richer and more opulent than Rennina. Bouquet of remarkable richness. In the drink, dark red cherry, plum, smoke, liquorice and cloves fill out the wine's broad-shouldered frame well. Hints of mocha, chocolate, spices and black-fleshed fruit add the final layers of nuance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, medium-dense ruby garnet. Smells of fresh, crisp cherries, blood orange and Mediterranean herbs on the nose. Spreads out very richly on the attack, juicy, crisp cherry fruit and some blackberry characterise the palate, shows grippy, savoury tannin on the back end, long final." Falstaff

"Deep ruby red with orange reflections. Spicy and slightly reductive on the nose, with pure cherry underneath. Pure and concentrated on the palate, albeit slowly, with complex oak notes that slowly unfold. At the moment, the powdery tannins take the lead on the finish, but it still needs plenty of time." Jancis Robinson

"First produced in 1995, Sugarille is not made in every vintage - having been omitted in 2017, this single vineyard bottling returns. Dark cherry and black plum are peppered with bitter herbs, tobacco and wet stone. Strong tannins provide a solid framework, and tantalising acidity soars. Sweet oak nuances merge with the finish of liquorice roots. A great contender for the cellar." Decanter

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille keeps me returning to the glass to enjoy its spicy yet wonderfully airy bouquet, where cedar and pine shavings evolve into mentholated herbs, flint and dried black cherries. This wine is very structured and soothing with its combination of ripe red fruits and juicy acidity, while sweet spices and mint nuances resonate towards the end. The sugarilla misses nothing, rejuvenating with impeccable balance and regal structure, while remnants of ripe wild berries and plums linger. The Gaja family has truly outdone itself in this idiosyncratic vintage." Vinous

"A dark, brooding 2018, with accents of smoke, vanilla, iron and tar surrounding a core of cherry and plum flavors. Reveals balsamic elements of eucalyptus and wild herbs on the lingering finish. On the austere side now, with a core of fruit and mineral." Wine Spectator

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is structured, rich and intense, with particular richness and texture. This wine comes from a single site characterised by slaty Galestro soils. These conditions give the Sugarille its heavier focus and its particular power and strength. Dark fruits, balsamic herbs and pencil shavings create a beautiful and precise bouquet. Give this wine more time to mature." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of red plums, sour cherries, spice box, oranges, cloves and capers. Also moss and porcini mushrooms. Wonderfully open, with a medium to full body and very fine, silky tannins. A beautiful purity of fruit with a long, seamless finish. Ethereal and transparent." James Suckling

Medium ruby red. Opulent bouquet of small red berries, especially redcurrant, somewhat herbal. Then full and harmonious on the palate, with pleasant fresh brightenings and a nice texture of cherries, forest floor and herbs. A stable framework of acidity and tannin leads into a persistent and long finish. SUPERIORE.DE

A modernist, as he says in the book. Balanced and impressive at the same time. Strong scents and flavours of violets, black cherries, tobacco and menthol. The tannins are firm and yet beautifully integrated. Rennina is a complex, medium-weight wine, which has a great positive influence on its ageing potential and constitutes its success story. SUPERIORE.DE

"The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is a dark, plush and succulent red wine with seamless overall integration. Angelo Gaja makes his wines with broad brush strokes that form shapes of perfect harmony and grandeur. He seems less interested in the minutiae, much in the same way an impressionist painter creates a portrait without consideration for the gritty details of reality. Continuing with my art metaphor, I'll venture to say that this is a big-picture wine that embraces bold fruit, oak spice, acidity and tannin in one overwhelming and warm embrace. I usually score the Sugarille a point or two higher, but this year the Rennina won my heart." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of orange peel, dark fruit and bark. Dried mushroom, too. Full body and extremely polished and velvety tannins that are plush but compacted. Delicious finish." James Suckling

"Deep ruby. Lots of oak and lively, concentrated cherry on the nose. Oak has quite a big impact but there is such a lot of fruit that it integrates. The finish has amazing length and muscular grip, but it could do with much less oak, because it plays up on the finish." Jancis Robinson

"This perfumed Brunello offers enticing scents of pressed violet, rose, talcum powder, wild berry, eucalyptus and a whiff of exotic spice. On the structured palate, firm fine-grained tannins provide support for dried black cherry, licorice, vanilla and a hint of espresso." Wine Enthusiast

"This is fragrant, offering cherry, leather, floral and spice notes. On the palate, this remains fresh, with persistent flavors and fine harmony. Dusty tannins pull everything together on the finish. There's plenty of energy here." Wine Spectator

Rennina 2015 builds up on the palate in several layers: sensual fruit, paired with multi-layered impressions of forest soil, spices and tanned leather. On the palate it is soft and yet powerful, yet balanced, with an impeccable structure, underpinned by harmonious acidity, and with an extract sweet, almost feminine finish. Very appealing and a perfect reflection of a perfect vintage with the corresponding potential for the next decade. SUPERIORE.DE

"Astringent, firmly knitted, somewhat dried vegetable to tobacco and a little woody aroma of ripe, partly preserved black and red berries with a little dried herbs, plums, minerality and almost fleshy tones. Very firm in the mouth, ripe, juicy berry and cherry fruit, very slightly plummy tones, nutty and moderately woody tones, a little tobacco and tar, present, ripe, still very youthful tannin, dense and persistent on the palate, deep, multi-layered, yet hardly developed, restrained power, a little cocoa and pepper in the background, much melting, but also grip, compact build, very good to long, firm, tart finish with salty and smoky tones." Wein-Plus

"lush ruby with a slight garnet tinge. Rich and intense nose of plums and blackberries, some liquorice. Deep and powerful at the beginning, opens with present, dense tannin, in the final firm pressure." Falstaff

"Tasted blind. Deep ruby with bright orange tinges. Subdued, brooding, perfumed dark fruit with hints of pine. Eye-catching sweet-sour cherry fruit and juicy acidity with the tannins adding considerable muscle." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is dark and powerful in the glass, slowly opening with a display of crushed stone, cedar, mint, and a dusting of cumin, as its dark red fruits begin to unfurl in a captivating display. On the palate, silky textures offset tart cherry and blackberry fruits, balanced by a core of rounded tannins and lifting acidity, as hints of licorice and sweet herbal tones develope. The finish is medium in length and poised, showing fine-grain tannins beneath a sheen of polished red and black fruits, with hints of lavender lingering on. The 2015 Rennina is a classy wine that’s just begging for a few years in the cellar to fully blossom." Vinous

"Aromatic, evoking wild herb and balsamic notes of juniper, thyme and pine, along with flavors of black cherry, plum and iron. Firmly structured and fresh, offering a long, complex aftertaste. Unfolds pleasantly and maintains balance." Wine Spectator

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is beautifully balanced and elegant. The wine is successfully streamlined and focused on the nuanced characteristics of the otherwise warm and sunny 2015 vintage. Rennina is often considered to be the more lithe and graceful of Gaja's two Brunellos. The bouquet opens to pretty berry nuances, blue flower, lavender, grilled herb and powdery licorice. Despite the more delicate approach, Rennina delivers ample power in the mouth with fresh acidity and tight tannins. I'd suggest opening this bottle at the 10-year mark." Wine Advocate

"Extremely perfumed and pretty with dried berry, orange peel and fruit tea on the nose. Full-bodied, extremely tight and refined with superb tannin quality that shows polish, finesse and beauty. It goes on for minutes on the palate. One for the cellar. Best wine ever from here. Needs three or four years to come together." James Suckling

Rennina from the dream year 2016 is a proud parade drop - everything is in the right place here and, what's more, so much more for the real connoisseur. Deep, almost impenetrable ruby red. Initially rather closed nose with mineral notes and a hint of oak sawdust. As it progresses, then gravel road, mint and hints of caraway. On the palate then fleshy, powerful, with concentrated sour cherry fruit and a present but never intrusive tannin. Despite a certain opulence, it is a balanced wine that - away from the mainstream - is guaranteed to find its friends who will give it the necessary understanding, plenty of experience and also patience. SUPERIORE.DE

"Flower of raspberries, of hot stone and bitter chocolate, wood used with pinpoint accuracy; the attack powerful yet round, with plenty of polished tannin and an opulent finish. Combines richness and elegance." Vinum

"Rich, sparkling ruby with a fine garnet rim. Compact nose with notes of ripe raspberry and plum, followed by cold smoke and leather. Juicy ripe fruit on the palate, lots of grippy tannin, plus sweet melting, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Both of Gaja's cru Brunello demonstrate the generous warmth and salty breezes of the Tavernelle zone in Montalcino's central southwest. Rennina, which is assembled from three plots surrounding the church after which the winery is named, is the more extroverted of the two. Still patently young in its structure and fruit, it is vivaciously scented with an explosion of garden herbs, juniper, liquorice and summer berries. Powerful, rich fruit is hemmed in by polished yet copious tannins. Quite a fully charged, boisterous Rennina, this will need some time to tame." Decanter

"Aromas of espresso, clove and licorice mingle with balsamic notes of camphor. Elegantly structured, the focused, linear palate offers dried cherry, blood orange and star anise framed in firm, close-grained tannins that grip the finish." Wine Enthusiast

"A top note of mint graces the cherry, plum and tar flavors in this tightly packed red, which feels balanced overall, despite the strapping tannins, with a lingering, sanguine- and iron-tinged finish." Wine Spectator

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is a dark and youthfully understated beauty. A gorgeous display of tobacco and savory herbs gives way to tart cherries, currants, brown spice and earth tones, gaining further richness the longer it spends in the glass. It's seamless, elegant and silky in feel, with layers of ripe red fruit offset by dried citrus, as notes of black tea, licorice, hints of olive and saturating minerals settle in. There's so much going on here; yet beneath its polished elegance, a layer of fine tannins penetrates deeply, making for a dry and structured finale." Vinous

"The Pieve Santa Restituta 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina offers intensity and beautifully concentrated fruit. The bouquet reveals layers of wild cherry, rose, blue flower and candied orange peel. However, if you are expecting a more subdued Rennina, that's not what you get in this classic 2016 vintage. The wine is buzzing with energy and vitality, with a lifted and an especially brilliant set of aromas. You might also detect a hint of fresh peppercorn or coriander seed that gives the wine a veil of the exotic." Wine Advocate

"Some much shaved black truffles to the blackberry, walnut and chocolate undertones. It's full-bodied and layered with chewy yet soft tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Smoke, mahogany and wet-earth undertones. Needs three or four years to soften and come together." James Suckling

A modernist by the book. Balanced and impressive at the same time. 2018 Rennina with powerful aromas and flavours of violets, black cherries, tobacco and menthol. The tannins are firm yet beautifully integrated. Rennina is a complex, medium-bodied wine, which has a great positive influence on its ageing potential and makes it a success story. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shiny ruby-garnet. Finely marked nose with notes of raspberry and goji berries, liquorice in the background. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, lots of tightly woven tannin embedded in beautiful melting, unfolds smoothly, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Rennina brings together three neighbouring plots with varying soils, each contributing to the final expression. Sandy soil rich in marine fossils is associated with elegant perfumes, while Galestro lends structured tannins. An enchanting nose captures the dusty landscape and the sweet oily herbs of Tuscany. Flavours of cherry and violet saturate the palate, and beautifully integrated oak melds with long, chalky tannins. Tangy and sweet on the finish." Decanter

"Delicate and understated in the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina whisps up with a pleasantly earthy mix of dried strawberries, roses and clove nuances. This coasts silky textural fruits across a core of brisk acidity and saline-minerals in an untethered Brunello of pure elegance. It finishes with ample tannins, but also remarkably fresh, leaving notes of red plum, mocha and tobacco to linger. This harmonious vintage of Rennina should evolve beautifully in collectors’ cellars." Vinous

"Harmonious and with an almost creamy texture, this red wine shows aromas and flavours of cherry, raspberry, plum, clay, almond and black pepper. On the finish, it shows a pleasant bitterness that lasts until the end." Wine Spectator

"Made with a blend of fruit from three vineyard sites with very different soil profiles, the Rennina maintains its distinct personality with elegant aromas of red fruit, forest berry, cassis, balsam herb and toasted almond. This vintage shows a hint of baked clay or black olive that underlines the warm vintage conditions. The wine is generous in terms of mouthfeel, with a nice fullness that remains graceful at the same time." Wine Advocate

"Complex, wild and energetic with an intellectual array of fresh truffles, bramble berries, bark, cardamom, dried porcini, miso and rosemary. Full-bodied yet agile, with firm, tight tannins and sharp acidity. Powerful and tight. Needs a few years to open. Try after 2025." James Suckling

Sugarille is always a little darker, richer and more opulent than Rennina. Bouquet of remarkable richness. In the drink, dark red cherry, plum, smoke, liquorice and cloves fill out the wine's broad-shouldered frame well. Hints of mocha, chocolate, spices and black-fleshed fruit add the final layers of nuance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, medium-dense ruby garnet. Smells of fresh, crisp cherries, blood orange and Mediterranean herbs on the nose. Spreads out very richly on the attack, juicy, crisp cherry fruit and some blackberry characterise the palate, shows grippy, savoury tannin on the back end, long final." Falstaff

"Deep ruby with orange tinges. Savoury and slightly reductive on the nose with pure cherry underneath. Pure and focused on the palate, if slow to unfurl, and with complex oak notes slowly revealing themselves. Right now, the powdery tannins take the lead on the finish, but this needs much more time." Jancis Robinson

"First produced in 1995, Sugarille is not made every vintage - after skipping 2017, this single-vineyard bottling returns. Dark cherry and black plum are spiked with bitter herbs, tobacco and wet stone. Sturdy tannins form a solid framework and tantalising acidity soars. Sweet oak nuances melt into the liquorice root finish. A great contender for the cellar." Decanter

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille keeps me coming back to the glass again and again to take in its spicy yet also wonderfully lifted bouquet, as shavings of cedar and pine evolve to reveal mentholated herbs, flinty stone and dried black cherries. This is deeply textural, soothing with its combination of ripe red fruits and juicy acidity, as sweet spices and mint nuances resonate toward the close. The Sugarille doesn’t miss a beat, tapering off with impeccable balance and regal structure, while allowing remnants of ripe wild berries and plum to linger on and on. The Gaja family has really outdone themselves in this idiosyncratic vintage." Vinous

"A dark, brooding 2018, with accents of smoke, vanilla, iron and tar surrounding a core of cherry and plum flavors. Reveals balsamic elements of eucalyptus and wild herbs on the lingering finish. On the austere side now, with a core of fruit and mineral." Wine Spectator

"Showing extra richness and textural weight, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is structured, rich and intense. This wine represents fruit from a single site that is characterized by schistous galestro soils. These conditions give Sugarille its heavier center of gravity and its distinguished power and heft. Dark fruit, balsam herb and pencil shavings shape a beautiful and precise bouquet. Give this wine more time to age." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of red plums, sour cherries, spice box, oranges, cloves and capers. Moss and porcini, too. Beautifully open, with a medium to full body and very fine, silky tannins. Lovely purity of fruit here, with a long, seamless finish. Ethereal and transparent." James Suckling

Rennina 2015 builds up on the palate in several layers: sensual fruit, paired with multi-layered impressions of forest soil, spices and tanned leather. On the palate it is soft and yet powerful, yet balanced, with an impeccable structure, underpinned by harmonious acidity, and with an extract sweet, almost feminine finish. Very appealing and a perfect reflection of a perfect vintage with the corresponding potential for the next decade. SUPERIORE.DE

"Astringent, firmly knitted, somewhat dried vegetable to tobacco and a little woody aroma of ripe, partly preserved black and red berries with a little dried herbs, plums, minerality and almost fleshy tones. Very firm in the mouth, ripe, juicy berry and cherry fruit, very slightly plummy tones, nutty and moderately woody tones, a little tobacco and tar, present, ripe, still very youthful tannin, dense and persistent on the palate, deep, multi-layered, yet hardly developed, restrained power, a little cocoa and pepper in the background, much melting, but also grip, compact build, very good to long, firm, tart finish with salty and smoky tones." Wein-Plus

"lush ruby with a slight garnet tinge. Rich and intense nose of plums and blackberries, some liquorice. Deep and powerful at the beginning, opens with present, dense tannin, in the final firm pressure." Falstaff

"Tasted blind. Deep ruby with bright orange tinges. Subdued, brooding, perfumed dark fruit with hints of pine. Eye-catching sweet-sour cherry fruit and juicy acidity with the tannins adding considerable muscle." Jancis Robinson

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is dark and powerful in the glass, slowly opening with a display of crushed stone, cedar, mint, and a dusting of cumin, as its dark red fruits begin to unfurl in a captivating display. On the palate, silky textures offset tart cherry and blackberry fruits, balanced by a core of rounded tannins and lifting acidity, as hints of licorice and sweet herbal tones develope. The finish is medium in length and poised, showing fine-grain tannins beneath a sheen of polished red and black fruits, with hints of lavender lingering on. The 2015 Rennina is a classy wine that’s just begging for a few years in the cellar to fully blossom." Vinous

"Aromatic, evoking wild herb and balsamic notes of juniper, thyme and pine, along with flavors of black cherry, plum and iron. Firmly structured and fresh, offering a long, complex aftertaste. Unfolds pleasantly and maintains balance." Wine Spectator

"The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is beautifully balanced and elegant. The wine is successfully streamlined and focused on the nuanced characteristics of the otherwise warm and sunny 2015 vintage. Rennina is often considered to be the more lithe and graceful of Gaja's two Brunellos. The bouquet opens to pretty berry nuances, blue flower, lavender, grilled herb and powdery licorice. Despite the more delicate approach, Rennina delivers ample power in the mouth with fresh acidity and tight tannins. I'd suggest opening this bottle at the 10-year mark." Wine Advocate

"Extremely perfumed and pretty with dried berry, orange peel and fruit tea on the nose. Full-bodied, extremely tight and refined with superb tannin quality that shows polish, finesse and beauty. It goes on for minutes on the palate. One for the cellar. Best wine ever from here. Needs three or four years to come together." James Suckling

A modernist by the book. Balanced and impressive at the same time. 2018 Rennina with powerful aromas and flavours of violets, black cherries, tobacco and menthol. The tannins are firm yet beautifully integrated. Rennina is a complex, medium-bodied wine, which has a great positive influence on its ageing potential and makes it a success story. SUPERIORE.DE

"Shiny ruby-garnet. Finely marked nose with notes of raspberry and goji berries, liquorice in the background. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, lots of tightly woven tannin embedded in beautiful melting, unfolds smoothly, firm pressure on the final." Falstaff

"Rennina brings together three neighbouring plots with varying soils, each contributing to the final expression. Sandy soil rich in marine fossils is associated with elegant perfumes, while Galestro lends structured tannins. An enchanting nose captures the dusty landscape and the sweet oily herbs of Tuscany. Flavours of cherry and violet saturate the palate, and beautifully integrated oak melds with long, chalky tannins. Tangy and sweet on the finish." Decanter

"Delicate and understated in the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina whisps up with a pleasantly earthy mix of dried strawberries, roses and clove nuances. This coasts silky textural fruits across a core of brisk acidity and saline-minerals in an untethered Brunello of pure elegance. It finishes with ample tannins, but also remarkably fresh, leaving notes of red plum, mocha and tobacco to linger. This harmonious vintage of Rennina should evolve beautifully in collectors’ cellars." Vinous

"Harmonious and bordering on creamy in texture, this red features cherry, raspberry, plum, loam, almond and black pepper aromas and flavors. Reveals pleasant bitterness as this winds down on the lingering aftertaste." Wine Spectator

"Made with a blend of fruit from three vineyard sites with very different soil profiles, the Rennina maintains its distinct personality with elegant aromas of red fruit, forest berry, cassis, balsam herb and toasted almond. This vintage shows a hint of baked clay or black olive that underlines the warm vintage conditions. The wine is generous in terms of mouthfeel, with a nice fullness that remains graceful at the same time." Wine Advocate

"Complex, wild and energetic with an intellectual array of fresh truffles, bramble berries, bark, cardamom, dried porcini, miso and rosemary. Full-bodied yet agile, with firm, tight tannins and sharp acidity. Powerful and tight. Needs a few years to open. Try after 2025." James Suckling

Sugarille is always a little darker, richer and more opulent than Rennina. Bouquet of remarkable richness. In the drink, dark red cherry, plum, smoke, liquorice and cloves fill out the wine's broad-shouldered frame well. Hints of mocha, chocolate, spices and black-fleshed fruit add the final layers of nuance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Sparkling, medium-dense ruby garnet. Smells of fresh, crisp cherries, blood orange and Mediterranean herbs on the nose. Spreads out very richly on the attack, juicy, crisp cherry fruit and some blackberry characterise the palate, shows grippy, savoury tannin on the back end, long final." Falstaff

"Deep ruby with orange tinges. Savoury and slightly reductive on the nose with pure cherry underneath. Pure and focused on the palate, if slow to unfurl, and with complex oak notes slowly revealing themselves. Right now, the powdery tannins take the lead on the finish, but this needs much more time." Jancis Robinson

"First produced in 1995, Sugarille is not made every vintage - after skipping 2017, this single-vineyard bottling returns. Dark cherry and black plum are spiked with bitter herbs, tobacco and wet stone. Sturdy tannins form a solid framework and tantalising acidity soars. Sweet oak nuances melt into the liquorice root finish. A great contender for the cellar." Decanter

"A dark, brooding 2018, with accents of smoke, vanilla, iron and tar surrounding a core of cherry and plum flavors. Reveals balsamic elements of eucalyptus and wild herbs on the lingering finish. On the austere side now, with a core of fruit and mineral." Wine Spectator

"The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille keeps me coming back to the glass again and again to take in its spicy yet also wonderfully lifted bouquet, as shavings of cedar and pine evolve to reveal mentholated herbs, flinty stone and dried black cherries. This is deeply textural, soothing with its combination of ripe red fruits and juicy acidity, as sweet spices and mint nuances resonate toward the close. The Sugarille doesn’t miss a beat, tapering off with impeccable balance and regal structure, while allowing remnants of ripe wild berries and plum to linger on and on. The Gaja family has really outdone themselves in this idiosyncratic vintage." Vinous

"Showing extra richness and textural weight, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is structured, rich and intense. This wine represents fruit from a single site that is characterized by schistous galestro soils. These conditions give Sugarille its heavier center of gravity and its distinguished power and heft. Dark fruit, balsam herb and pencil shavings shape a beautiful and precise bouquet. Give this wine more time to age." Wine Advocate

"Aromas of red plums, sour cherries, spice box, oranges, cloves and capers. Moss and porcini, too. Beautifully open, with a medium to full body and very fine, silky tannins. Lovely purity of fruit here, with a long, seamless finish. Ethereal and transparent." James Suckling