2013 Brunello di Montalcino Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille
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Tasting notes
Lustrous mid ruby with orange tinges. Compact cherry with savoury minerally notes and just-perceptible oak. Lots of juice and lots of tannic grip. Great length and suppleness. (WS)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2013 Sugarille is more classic in style than the Rennina yet is still a ripe, sexy beast of a Brunello. Ripe cherries, red currants, spice, and balsamic notes all flow to a concentrated, medium to full-bodied effort that has nicely integrated acidity, solid mid-palate depth, and enough ripe tannins to keep it drinking nicely for 10-15+ years or more. It's a beautiful wine.
The single-vineyard 2013 Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille has a tighter core and a blacker heart compared to the Rennina. This wine is momentarily more difficult to penetrate and comprehend. It makes a more abrupt first impression but then relaxes and reveals more of its character only after it has spent extra time in your company. Then, it becomes suddenly exuberant and loud. This is a dynamic expression of Sangiovese with bold ripe fruit, spice and balsam notes to carry it forward during cellar aging. This vintage offers firmness and strength. Some 20,000 bottles were produced (of both Sugarille and Rennina, respectively).
A shade more mature ruby than the Rennina. Much more restrained and less opulent. Blackberry, cherry and minerally notes. Fresher and more precise, too, and with better integrated oak. Energetic acidity with plush fruit on the finish and bags of appetising, chewy tannins. (WS) (JR)
About the producer
Gaja has been at the forefront of the Piedmont wine scene for many years and is Barbaresco’s most decorated producer. The winery has received a record number of Gambero Rosso Tre Bicchieri awards – the highest accolade from Italy’s leading wine publication.