A winery needing very little explanation, Gaja is a historic Italian winery, with its original roots in Piedmonte. The Gaja Winery was founded by Giovanni Gaja in 1859 and has been owned and operated by five generations of the Gaja family. Giovanni Gaja was the great-grandfather of Angelo Gaja, the winery's current owner.
In 1994, GAJA acquired its first wine estate in Tuscany, Pieve Santa Restituta in Montalcino. This estate produces three Brunello di Montalcino wines- including the single vineyard Sugarille- from vineyard holdings totaling sixty five acres. In 1996 Gaja acquired a second property in Tuscany, Ca'Marcanda, located in Castagneto Carducci in Bolgheri. Of the property's 200 acres, 150 have been planted with new vineyards: primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc and Syrah.Currently, the Gaja Winery owns 250 acres of vineyards in Piedmont, located in the Barbaresco district (Barbaresco and Treiso) and the Barolo district (Serralunga d'Alba and La Morra).
I had the chance to review their most recent releases from Brunello di Montalcino and was massively impressed with the quality of not only the winemaking but the incredible aging potential of both of these wines. Both were sourced from the 2015 vintage — one that has been heralded as one of the great vintages in the last decade. This was a warmer vintage and the wines showed incredible depth and concentration yet displayed a great sense of poise. The 2015 Gaja ‘Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina’ Brunello (OB, 96) is very pure and pretty, with wonderful density and incredible aging potential. This magical wine will survive for decades to come. Even better is the dazzling 2015 Gaja ‘Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille’ Brunello (OB, 97) which is more massive and muscular and also very tightly wound, with incredible cellaring potential. Here are my reviews of the new gorgeous Brunello di Montalcino wines by Gaja.
2015 Gaja ‘Pieve Santa Restituta Rennina’ Brunello di Montalcino- Historians have found a document from 715 A.D. which makes reference to the Rennina area, which neighbors the church Pieve (church) of Santa Restituta. Set on rich soils, the ‘Rennina’ shows intense dark fruits that mingle with pipe tobacco, red florals and leather, alongside firm tannins. The freshness and viscosity of the wine really show though. Showing even more layers with red rose petals, dried herbs and blood orange zest tones following a two hour decant, the simply captivating ‘Rennina’ will enjoy a long life ahead of it. Try to keep this nestled in the cellar for at least another five more years. Drink 2026-2045- 96
2015 Gaja ‘Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille’ Brunello di Montalcino- Documents have mentioned growing vines on this site since the sixteenth century, as ‘Sugarille’ is named after the cork trees that were planted here many decades ago. The wine shows more flavor intensity and weight than the slightly more elegant ‘Rennina’ as intense exotic spices, and black currants dance with smoky and earthy tones on the palate. Refined tannins hold everything together marvelously as the combination of weight, finesse and verve here is second to none. I can only imagine how beautifully this will age. Quite restrained even after two hours in the decanter, enjoy this in about six to eight years. Drink 2027-2050- 97