Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Rennina 2015
- jd96
- wa96
- v95
- ws95
- we90
Category | Red Wine |
Varietal | |
Brand | Gaja |
Origin | Italy, Tuscany, Brunello di Montalcino |
Alcohol/vol | 15% |
The name GAJA is legendary for iconic Italian wines. Hailing originally from Piedmont, the family made the move to also make wine in Tuscany as a natural progression of their reputation and quality. The Pieve Santa Restituta estate was acquired by the Gaja family in 1994. The white rocky soils of this area, in the southwest subzone of the Brunello di Montalcino appellation, were abandoned long ago by the sharecropper mezzadri farmers. But while other crops struggled in the rugged, nutrient-poor terrain, it has proven ideal for the cultivation of grapes destined to become fine wine such as this one.
This 2015 has strikingly elegant aromas of violets, wild roses, roots, followed closely by blueberries, licorice, nutmeg and saffron accents. This wine has remarkable structure, with layers of smooth fruit gliding over the mouth. The tannins are firm but silky and the acidity is perfectly fresh, the finish is lingering.
Jeb Dunnuck
- jd96
Coming from a handful of vineyards, the 2015 Brunello Di Montalcino Rennina has a gorgeous, classic bouquet of ripe black cherries, redcurrants, dried earth, baking spices, and a hint of licorice. Beautifully balanced on the palate, with full-bodied richness and plenty of oomph, it offers silky tannins, a solid spine of acidity, and just flawless balance. This rock star Brunello is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and deliver two decades of prime drinking.
Wine Advocate
- wa96
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 other being Sugarille that is also reviewed here). 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. Production is 11,000 bottles.
Vinous
- v95
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.
Wine Spectator
- ws95
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. Best from 2023 through 2043. 550 cases imported.
Wine Enthusiast
- we90
Showing the heat of the vintage, this has subdued aromas suggesting mature black-skinned berry marinated in spirits along with whiffs of dried herb, scorched earth, coconut and balsamic whiffs of camphor. The full-bodied palate is rather shy on fruit richness, featuring dried black cherry, French oak, vanilla and licorice alongside the warmth of evident alcohol. Close-grained tannins leave a firm, mouthdrying finish. Give the tannins a few years to unwind then drink sooner rather than later to capture the remaining fruit.
Cap
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wa91Wine Advocate
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ws91Wine Spectator
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st91International Wine Cellar
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we91Wine Enthusiast
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js91James Suckling
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bs91Bottle Shop
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w&s91Wine & Spirits
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bh91Burghound
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wj91Wine Journal
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wsk91Whiskey Advocate
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agv91Vinous
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d91Decanter
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tp91The Tasting Panel
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jd91Jeb Dunnuck
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