Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta 2016 Brunello di Montalcino 'Rennina' - In Bond Per Case of 6x75cl
Gaja's Rennina is sourced from their vineyards in Tavernelle, some of their oldest vines and right in the heart of Montalcino's best locations at around 300 - 350 metres in elevation. Originally this wine was sourced from one single parcel, now it is from 3 parcels namely Pian di Cerni, with a South, South-West exposure; Castagno Vecchio to South-West, and Santo Pietro to the West. All these sites each add a little something to the final wine, making it complete and complex. Of the two 'Cru' wines made in Montalcino by Gaja, Rennina is the more elegant. Gaja makes the analogy that Rennina is the Barbaresco with Sugarille being the Barolo.
Rennina 2016 has impressive depth to the colour with the fruit being incredible dark in character. Beautiful minerality and intensity together with remarkable freshness. Despite what you may have heard about the quality of the 2016s, the wines from this year are nothing like the 2010s, the former seem to be holding back rather than delivering all the goods in one go. Drink from 2025 but you may have to wait a little longer to get it at its true potential.
Available for delivery from end of March 2021.
This wine is offered in bond with duty & VAT payable on arrival, or we can store in our Private Reserves Account under bond at EHD Bond in Salisbury on your behalf.
The Vintage
2016 Brunello di Montalcino
Last year, we wrote that it remained to be seen if 2016 turned out a better vintage than its predecessor. Well, now we have made all our tastings it is still quite difficult to separate this pair in terms of quality, they are both 5 star vintages in our opinion, but these two are remarkably different in style. The 2015s are marked by their richness and density, with the 2016s being quite the reverse. The latter's wines are cooler and fresher and are more reticent in their aromatics, but the components are all there: fantastic acidity and tannins, with most of the wines having longer cellar potential. The vintage has been greatly hyped, and we are pleased with all our selections. Having tasted from close to 30 producers, we have kept our choices this year to a tight bunch of our perennial favourites, plus a few more which also excited us this year. This is a year to go long on: if you are fan of Brunello this is really not a year to miss.
