2006 Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Rennina
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Tasting notes
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina bursts from the glass with a darkly alluring bouquet of licorice and pine shavings, sweet spice, tobacco and dried black cherries. It’s soothingly round with a solid core of dark red and black fruit underscored by tactile minerals as a balsamic infusion adds tension. Despite its power, it cleans up beautifully through the finish, reeled in by a whiplash of zesty acidity as residual tannins frame the experience and nuances of red plum fade.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is simply stunning, with bright cherries and strawberries giving way to dusty rose and cedar spice box. The textures are velvety and elegant, offset by a burst of spicy citrus, as an intense wave of ripe wild berry fruits drenches the palate. Notes of coffee, tobacco and balsam herbs linger incredibly long over a coating of adolescent tannins. The 2006 is still evolving, with another 10 years or more to get to its ultimate peak.
The 2006 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina is super-impressive. The wine literally dazzles the palate with layers of vibrant red berries, flowers and subtle French oak. In 2006, the Rennina shows gorgeous depth and purity, all in the wine’s signature style of finesse and restraint. A long, beautifully-articulated finish adds the last layers of elegance. This is a fabulous effort from Angelo Gaja and his team. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. Angelo Gaja took advantage of the weak 2005 vintage to restructure his offerings from Montalcino. In that vintage Gaja issued one straight Brunello, which consisted of the best fruit from his Rennina and Sugarille vineyards. The goal was to introduce a new label that has now become the entry-level wine from Pieve Santa Restituta. This allows for Gaja to be even more selective with the wines that carry the single vineyard designations. Unfortunately Gaja chose not to present his straight Brunello, but I will report on that wine as soon as I have chance to taste it. In the meantime, readers will want to focus on the Rennina and Sugarille, both of which are superb Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900
Bright dark red. Very dark but slightly muted aromas of black fruits, minerals and licorice. Densely packed and deep but not especially sweet, with terrific integrated acidity giving the wine outstanding thrust and a powerful spine. The brooding cherry and cassis flavors are dominated by the wine's powerful structure today. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins that reach the teeth. More serious than charming.
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.