Brunello di Montalcino, Santa Pieve Restituta, Gaja, 2016, Tuscany, Italy

Our View:

A wonderful Brunello by the renowned Gaja family from another superb vintage in the Montalcino region

Intense and complex, this wine is approachable now and has the structure to age beautifully over the next 10+ years.  A great wine. 

The Wine:

A beautiful wine from an historic part of Italy, as Gaja themselves state: When the Gaja family purchased the historic Santa Restituta estate in 1994, it did so in the hopes of bringing its expertise and experience in winemaking to this often misunderstood appellation. Today, Pieve Santa Restituta’s Brunello di Montalcino is considered one of the top expressions of the appellation.

2016 blessed us with complex and captivating wines. Characterized by deep ruby colours, the wines are pure with vivid aromas, structured but also fine and gracious with lively freshness and gentle tannins. 

The Santa Pieve Restututa is a blend of two top vineyards, Sugarille and Rennina, along with grapes from sites in the town of Torrenieri, located in the north east of the region.

The grapes from the different vineyards macerate and ferment separately for approx. 3 weeks. After 24 months ageing in oak, the wines are blended and then aged for a further six months in concrete vats.

Tasting Note:

The nose is refreshing and youthful, with intriguing notes of raspberry and strawberry, very complex and intense, showing a well defined hint of white pepper.

On the palate, the entrance is voluptuous with sweet pure fruit. The tannins are easily detectable but velvety and beautifully integrated. It is a harmonious and gentle wine, immediately impressive, yet with structure and framework to ensure a long life in the cellar.

The Facts:

What the critics say:

Greg Sherwood MW 96 points: 

"The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a fabulously plush, concentrated and intense expression of Brunello and represents probably the estate’s best vintage to date. The aromatics are perfumed and detailed showing cherry blossom, violets, vanilla oak spice and ripe dark layers of red and black berries, sweet cherry tobacco, cola and subtle red liquorice notes with just the faintest spearmint menthol top note. On the palate, the tannins are ripe but powerful with broad mouth-coating grip supported by pure cherry and cranberry fruit concentration, hints of balsamic, crystalline fresh acids and a wonderfully long harmonious finish. Distinguished and refined, but showing tremendous breadth, depth and structural power making this a perfect wine for medium to long-term cellaring. Drink from 2024 to 2036+"