Gaja Rennina Brunello di Montalcino 2011

Ideally drink now through 2030. Decant 1-2 hours prior to drinking.

Crafted from 3 vineyards outside of the church of Santa Restituta, this beautiful wine displays a ruby color with a hint of copper on the rim. On the nose, aromas of black cherry, Christmas spice, and truffle give hints of what is to come. A mouth-filling wine, this has a luscious taste of cooked blackberry, with a leather and chocolate finish. A cherry freshness continues throughout, giving the wine the acidity necessary to pair with food. Firm tannins that soften as the wine opens up mean this wine is certainly approachable now but could evolve through many more years of cellaring.

This fantastic wine would pair well with a simple Tuscan meal of boar ragu, Bisteca Fiorentina, and artichoke salad.

Made of 100% Sangiovese Grosso (native to the Brunello region, Sangiovese Grosso is a subtype of the Sangiovese grape that has defining characteristics unique enough to have its own name), this wine is crafted by the legendary Gaja family of Piemonte fame, who bought their first vineyard and winery in Brunello in the early 1990’s, releasing their first vintage of the Rennina in 1994. The wine is fermented in stainless steel for one month, giving it it’s lush and brooding tannic structure. Following fermentation, the wine is aged in small 1-3 year old oak barriques for one year, after which the wine is further softened by another year of aging in large 30 year old oak casks called botti.