Gaja Brunello di Montalcino 'Sugarille' 2019 [in bond, ex VAT] (6 x 75cl)

Sangiovese

6 x 75cl * 14.5% ABV * Brunello di Montalcino, Italy

The name Gaja is synonymous with the very best wine, not only in Italy but around the world. We've held Gaja tastings here at Taurus which have sold out in minutes and proved that the wines are not only fantastic on their own, but sublime with food too - especially Italian delights such as truffled pasta and really good steak.

Named for the medieval church, Chiesa Santa Restituta, found at the centre of the pieve (or parish), this wine has been in production for over two decades and even though it's from Gaja's younger vineyards, it's now considered amongst the very best there is in Tuscany. First produced in 1990 (and by Gaja in 1995), this is a single south facing vineyard of just 4.5 hectares, mainly consisting of clay and limestone supplemented with galestro (a rocky soil composed of clay and schist). Sugarille is often the more approachable and delicate of the two single vineyards.

Following on from a spectacular 2016 vintage, 2017 and 2018 Brunellos were a mixed bag where some producers masterfully created elegant wines, but the vintages were undeniably challenging. It is therefore no surprise that the 2019s were so hotly anticipated – a quality vintage that is the best since the lauded 2016, with a welcome return to roughly average production for the region. Antonio Galloni sums up 2019 as “the vintage we’ve all been waiting for”.

Drinking Window: 2027 - 2039

“The Pieve Santa Restituta 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille reveals a finely chiselled quality, with direct and lifted fruit, that gives this wine an angular or delineated personality. This impression is reinforced by delicate mineral notes of crushed stone that fold into dark fruit, sweet plum, black cherry and earthy iris root. The wine is elegant, but it also shows lots of umami or textural deliciousness thanks to the natural ripeness and concentration of the fruit. Give this wine more time in bottle.” 97+ points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (December 2023)

“Extremely perfumed and intense with lilacs, violets, purple fruits and black cherries. Full-bodied and very structured with punchy tannins that give this great length and  intensity. This is a great one for the cellar. Try after 2027.” 97 points, James Suckling (December 2023)

“The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille is dark and youthfully inward, forcing the taster to work with its brooding blend of blackberries, sage and crushed stone. This displays textures of pure silk, polished and refined, with a dense textural wave of tart red and black fruits underscored by saline minerals and exotic spice. Orange notes add contrast through the close as this finishes tannic and long, with a pleasantly chewy sensation and angular tannins that pinch the cheeks. The 2019 is a dark stallion of a Brunello, all muscle and meat, that will take many years of cellaring to show its best. That said, it will be worth the wait.” 96 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (December 2023)

"To complete Angelo Gaja’s comparison with his Langhe wines, he likens Sugarille to Barolo (as opposed to the Rennina, which he equates with Barbaresco). Powerfully constructed, this will appeal to drinkers seeking a vigorous style of Brunello. Sweet oak spice and plum take on earthy forest undertones. It's ample and expansive in fruit, yet austere and tight in structure: dark cherry and plum hang off steely, vertical grape tannins. Thicker wood tannins build through the core but crisp acidity offsets the dense structure, and medicinal herbs are tucked into its layers. This becomes increasingly firmer as it sits in the glass, and will need a whole lot of time." 95 points, Michaela Morris (at Chiostro Museo Montalcino, 14 Nov 2023)

Please note that prices are in-bond and exclude VAT and duty, which are payable when the wines land in May 2024.