Gaja Brunello di Montalcino 'Rennina' 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 1994), this is a blend of three non-adjacent vineyards surround the church in Rennina. The vineyards are south-west facing and the soils are composed mainly of sand, silt and clay. Rennina is often characterised as the more tannic, earthy, savoury and structured of the two single vineyard offerings.

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: 2025 - 2039

 “Impeccably balanced with that proverbial Gaja Midas Touch that always denotes an extra level of creaminess or fruit concentration that fits lock and key with the wine’s acidity and velvety tannic structure, this is a truly gorgeous wine. The Pieve Santa Restituta 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina represents a blend of fruit from sites of various soil compositions and exposures. In this classic vintage, you can count on a wine that is firmly structured and important in terms of mouthfeel, but it also yields to delicate and softer nuances of wild rose, toasted cumin seed, campfire ash and grilled rosemary. The wine sticks to the palate and offers long-lasting black fruit flavours.” 97 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (December 2023) 

"From three vineyards directly surrounding the Pieve Santa Restituta winery in Tavernelle, the Rennina bottling is akin to Barbaresco, according to Angelo Gaja. Harvested between 12 September to 1 October, the 2019 definitely mines Sangiovese’s elegant side. Sweet Mediterranean herb nuances of tarragon, mint and sage are joined by cedary oak tones. Shiny, polished and balanced yet with underlying tension, the palate offers red berries tinged with bitter orange peel and tobacco. Finely powdered, clayey tannins cling confidently to the edges, while appetising acidity races through the core. Full, but not heavy and with a satisfying crunch, this will be accessible before the Sugarille but should be at least as long lived." 96 points, Michaela Morris (at Chiostro Museo Montalcino, 14 Nov 2023) Part of Brunello di Montalcino 2019 – ‘spoiled for choice’.

“Aromas of sweet cherries, roses, sweet tobacco, and hints of jam. Full and layered. Lots of fruit. Juicy finish. Chewy at the end, and with air it becomes layered and very structured. Cellar it. Give it three or four years. Best after 2027.” 95 points, James Suckling (December 2023)

“The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina pulls the taster down to the earth with a beguiling blend of crushed ashen stones and grilled herbs, giving way to red plums and violet pastille. It sweeps across the palate with silky textures yet possesses a wiry framework that adds a sultry character. Salty mineral tones complicate its tart red berry fruits. Edgy tannins collect toward the close, inflected by orange hints and a pleasantly bitter tinge that lingers on and on. Currently, the Rennina is all elbows and knees, yet I’m very excited to see where this distinctly savory Brunello is headed.” 94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (December 2023)

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