Pieve Santa Restituta
(Gaja) Brunello di Montalcino "Rennina" 2006
(Tuscany, Italy) - [ST 95+] [RP 94] [JS 94] [WS 92]

About the winery:

Pieve Santa Restituta is GAJA's estate in Montalcino, purchased in 1994. It is the family's first expansion outside the Barbaresco and Barolo areas since its establishment in 1859. Since 1994 several redevelopment works have been carried out in the vineyards to transform the vine growing methods in line with GAJA’s winemaking philosophy. The name of the winery derives from the ancient Pieve (church) situated in the middle of the estate, whose foundations date back to the 4th century AD. The labels chosen for the wines pay tribute to the Pieve and recall the typical colors of the Gaja family, i.e. black and white. Wine has been made here since the 12th century.
Santa Restituta is the patron saint of the island of Ischia, off the coast of Naples, where she was miraculously delivered from her pagan torturers who had planned to kill her at sea.
The labels chosen for the wines pay tribute to the Pieve and recall the typical colors of the Gaja family, the iconic black and white. Pieve Santa Restituta produces three Brunello di Montalcino wines: Rennina, Sugarille and Brunello di Montalcino.
The estate spans 86 acres under vines. Vineyards are located in a particularly privileged position, facing south and southwest, and the estate has an altitude ranging from 1,050 to 1,150 feet above sea level. The hills, of the Eocene age and facing the sea, are characterized by an extremely windy, dry and bright microclimate, preventing damp stagnation and allowing full grape ripening.
Pieve Santa Restituta combines traditional Tuscan winemaking methods with modern techniques to enhance the expression of the Sangiovese grape and the unique terroir of Montalcino.
The wines are typically aged in a mix of new oak casks and older vessels, allowing for both the preservation of fruit character and the development of complex tertiary notes.
The estate pays close attention to vineyard management and the specific characteristics of their vineyards, aiming to express the distinctiveness of the Montalcino terroir in their wines.

About the wine:

Deep red. Very clean, opulent aromas, with notes of ripe red fruits evolving into delicate spice and floral perfumes. Powerful and velvety in flavor with a fleshy and sustained finish and refined tannins.

Grape: 100% Sangiovese Grosso.

Vineyards: Santo Pietro, Castagno, Pian dei Cerri.

Fermentation: 4 weeks in stainless-steel vats.

Aging: 12 months in barrique (first-, second-, and third-passage casks), 12 months in botti (large thirty-year-old casks).

Vineyard notes: The designation Rennina (rehn-NEE-nah) first appears in the High Middle Ages and is derived from the late-Roman name of the estate, Fundus Rescianum, denoting a state-owned farm. Since the Gaja family's acquisition of the historic estate in 1994, three growing sites have been devoted to the cultivation of Sangiovese Grosso grapes for the production of Brunello di Montalcino: Santo Pietro (St. Peter), Castagno (Chestnut Tree), and Pian dei Cerri (Turkish Oak Flats). Here, lime-rich subsoils, southwest exposure, and ventilation arriving from the Tyrrhenian sea to the west deliver well-balanced Brunello di Montalcino, defined by its characteristic red fruit notes, minerality, and polished tannin.

95+ Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Bright dark red. Very dark but slightly muted aromas of black fruits, minerals and licorice. Densely packed and deep but not especially sweet, with terrific integrated acidity giving the wine outstanding thrust and a powerful spine. The brooding cherry and cassis flavors are dominated by the wine's powerful structure today. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins that reach the teeth. More serious than charming." - Stephen Tanzer (Jul/Aug '11)

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is super-impressive. The wine literally dazzles the palate with layers of vibrant red berries, flowers and subtle French oak. In 2006, the Rennina shows gorgeous depth and purity, all in the wine's signature style of finesse and restraint. A long, beautifully-articulated finish adds the last layers of elegance. This is a fabulous effort from Angelo Gaja and his team. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. - Antonio Galloni (May 2011)

94 Points - James Suckling:
"A full-bodied red, with soft and silky tannins and chocolate, berry and cherry character. Long and beautiful finish. This is balanced. Drink now or hold." (July 18, 2011)

92 Points -Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Warm, inviting aromas of black cherry, blackberry and toasted spices give way to licorice, tar and mineral flavors. Builds to a nice crescendo on the long aftertaste of spice and mineral. A modern style. Best from 2012 through 2025. 600 cases imported." - BS (Aug 31, 2011)