Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello Di Montalcino 2018

Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello Di Montalcino 2018

 

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Gaja
Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello Di Montalcino 2018
  • Vintage : 2018
  • Country : Italy
  • Region : Tuscany (Brunello di Montalcino)
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,5°
  • Grappes : 100% Sangiovese

Crafted with Angelo Gaja’s signature precision, this Brunello blends heritage with modern winemaking, offering a seamless expression of red fruit, Mediterranean herbs, and velvety tannins.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 95+ 2018
DCT Decanter 95 2018
JD Jeb Dunnuck 96 2016
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 95 2016
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

This Brunello comes from the Pieve Santa Restituta estate in the heart of the Brunello di Montalcino D.O.P., Tuscany’s renowned appellation for producing Sangiovese of exceptional quality. The vineyards are planted in well-draining soils, allowing the vines to thrive in the temperate microclimate of Montalcino.

The 2018 growing season was marked by a mild, dry winter and a rainy spring and early summer, requiring careful management to prevent mildew. By late summer, consistent Tramontana winds dried the grapes, ensuring optimal ripeness. Harvest took place between September 10 and early October, yielding wines with medium alcohol levels and bright acidity.

Winemaking

The wine is made from 100% Sangiovese, with grapes from multiple vineyards vinified separately. Fermentation and maceration lasted around three weeks, after which the wine was aged for 24 months in oak barrels. Following blending, it underwent an additional six months of aging in concrete vats to refine its structure and integrate flavors.

This combination of traditional and modern techniques results in a wine with depth, elegance, and balanced complexity.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Light ruby red, reflecting the freshness of a cooler vintage.
  • Aroma: Aromatic notes of Mediterranean herbs like thyme and rosemary, complemented by balsamic hints, red cherry, and plum. Subtle pine resin and sweet vanilla bean add complexity.
  • Palate: A perfect balance of bright acidity and ripe red fruit, with sweet, enveloping tannins that promise to develop beautifully with age. The finish is harmonious and refined.

Did you know?

The name Pieve Santa Restituta refers to the ancient church located on the estate, connecting the wine to its historical roots. The 2018 vintage is celebrated for its finesse and freshness, offering a marked departure from the warmer vintages typical of recent years in Montalcino.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Pappardelle with wild boar ragu: The wine’s herbal notes and bright acidity balance the rich, savory flavors of the ragu.
  • Roasted lamb with rosemary and garlic: The tannins and herbal nuances complement the lamb’s tenderness and aromatic profile.
  • Grilled porcini mushrooms: The earthy, savory flavors of mushrooms pair beautifully with the wine’s red fruit and herbal complexity.
  • Pecorino Toscano: The wine’s acidity and tannic structure balance the cheese’s salty and nutty profile.

The story of this estate’s ascendancy is captivating, full of passion and innovation. The Gaja name was established in the region in the 1850s when Angelo’s great, great grandfather Giovanni Gaja moved to Piedmont and then set up a tavern in the lovely village of Barbaresco.

Since then 5 generations of the Gaja family have been involved in the winemaking process. Angelo Gaja joined the business in 1961, taking over the reins from his father Giovanni. It was at this point that the greatest changes were made and they have been fundamental.

Amongst the key changes and innovations introduced were the exclusive focus on estate grown fruit; the reduction of yields; scientifically analyzing the vineyards; separately bottling the vineyard sites to create single vineyard wines; ageing in small barrels made by a local cooperage from wood kept and seasoned at the estate as well as the traditional bottle; planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes alongside the traditional indigenous varieties much to everyone’s horror, not least that of his father.

Today Angelo Gaja and his family create spectacular Barbaresco and Barolo wines from the Nebbiolo grape at their estate in Piedmont alongside their iconic single vineyard wines under the Langhe DOC. They also produce extraordinary white wines with a great capacity to age. They are responsible for some of Italy’s most celebrated bottles which all exhibit the characteristic hallmark of power with sophisticated elegance that marks Gaja apart.

As one would expect for wines of this quality harvesting is done by hand with acute care taken to ensure that the fruit reaches the winery in perfect condition. Ruthless decision making, such as the decision in 2002 (a dilute and difficult year in Piedmont) to declassify the total crop and sell it in bulk, illustrates this well. All wines are fermented in stainless steel, with the reds seeing varying degrees of skin contact depending on the wine and the year. Ageing starts in small French oak barrels, a tactic developed by Angelo when he took responsibility for the winemaking in 1969, and moves to large oak casks for all but the whites and Sito Moresco. Angelo regards the traditional requirements that must be observed for inclusion of a wine in the legal DOC or DOCG quality standards as an impediment to his policy of seeking perfection. Thus the majority of Gaja wines are named according to the vineyard rather than the DOC or DOCG. That Costa Russi is basically Barbaresco and Sperss is basically Barolo is something that must simply be remembered.

Anyone who has had the pleasure to meet Angelo and his daughter Gaia will not be surprised by their success. They have an indomitable will, powerful personality and a total belief in their own direction. Great wines are often a reflection of the people that create them and this is definitely the case with Gaja. Multi layered, fascinating wines with great charm, elegance and longevity. It is no wonder that they are held in such great esteem.

Robert Parker (RP) : 95+ Points (2018)
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.

Decanter (DCT) : 95 Points (2018)
First produced in 1995, Sugarille is not made every vintage - after skipping 2017, this single-vineyard bottling returns. While it doesn’t have the sheer compactness of 2015 or commanding power of 2016, it is still true to its dense, rich character, with a twist of 2018 levity. 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.

Jeb Dunnuck (JD) : 96 Points (2016)
The Rennina is sourced from three different vineyard sites of different exposition. There are playful and fresh aromatics of primary red plum, cherry cola, and fresh Mediterranean herbs. Refined and supple tannins coat the palate with fresh black raspberry fruit, licorice, and dried violets. The 2016 has richness without weight, is well-balanced, and has a luxurious feel. There is an approachability now, though it will be well enjoyed over the next 15 years. (AF) (3/2021)

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 95 Points (2016)
Dusty florals, plums, blackberries, dried flowers and hints of ginger rise up from the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina. This is silky and cool-toned in feel, with polished red and black berries; yet even with all of its lift and grace, there’s a density of fruit here and mounting tannins that promise many years of evolution. The long, structured, licorice-tinged finale keeps you guessing at what’s to come with further cellaring. I do believe that an updated score is in order. (EG) (12/2021)

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