GAJA PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA
TUSCANY, ITALY 2021
WHY BUY: Three superlative, single-vineyard Brunellos from the great GAJA, and from a 2021 vintage that critics have declared a classic: a 98-pointer and two 96-pointers. And these come not just from one of the world's most exacting producers, but from genuinely hallowed ground: Pieve Santa Restituta, which sits in Montalcino's coveted southwest corner, right alongside legends like Soldera's Case Basse, and on a site that's been growing exceptional wine since the 12th century. GAJA farms it with an obsessive precision no one else can match, and what ends up in your glass is Sangiovese at its most exalted: single-vineyard purity, profound terroir character, and that signature GAJA sense of balance.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: James Suckling swooned over the Sugarille 2021; in his 98-point paean to it, he praised its aromas of "Parma violets, licorice, red fruit and a touch of mint," its "elegant tannins with freshness and well-tamed power," and its "amazing length" that trails into a "polished cherry pit aftertaste.” He was taken, too, with the Rennina 2021, as was Jeb Dunnuck; both critics awarded it 96 points, with the latter calling it "a beautiful wine" of "brisk acidity, fine tannins, and a more linear, elegant profile," with a "mouthwatering finish." The entry-level Brunello 2021 came in for high praise from the critics, too; Suckling’s 96-point review singled out its "graceful nose," "dense mid-palate," and "velvety tannins that are powerful yet ripe."
OUR TASTING NOTES: In our book, the three wines are best understood as a family: related, unmistakably, but each with its own temperament. Think of the classic Brunello as the affable one that is easy to get along with. A blend drawn from estate vineyards across different subzones, it’s poised and mineral-driven, with the kind of effortlessness that endears us and so many to GAJA. The Rennina is the elegant and gracious sibling. Sourced from the vineyards immediately surrounding the estate, it’s a wine that Angelo Gaja himself has compared it to his Barbarescos in its finesse; we loved the combination of red cherry and Mediterranean herbs, and the silky tannins that make the experience such a deep, sensual pleasure. The Sugarille is the commanding sibling, the one with real authority. Grown on lime-rich, rocky galestro soils, it's deeper, more austere, and more structured, a wine that evolves in the glass and over the hours and, without a doubt, over the years and decades.
THE STORY: Angelo Gaja has long been a figure of controversy in the wine world — even within his own family, with his winemaking father famously taking him to task. He broke from tradition, often flamboyantly, with his techniques and practices (including aging the wines in French oak barriques, using temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, and issuing single-vineyard releases). Nor was he shy about telling the world what he had done. Italian winemakers and producers regarded him with skepticism and even hostility. But time has proven this fifth-generation Piedmontese winemaker to be less a provocateur than a prophet, and his methods are now broadly practiced throughout not just the Langhe, but in many regions of Italy.
THE PIEVE SANTA RESTITUTA VINEYARD: For most of its history, the name GAJA meant one thing: Piedmont. So when, in 1994, Angelo Gaja ventured outside his native region for the first time most hidebound observers were stunned. But there was prime real estate that Gaja coveted in Montalcino: Pieve Santa Restituta, named for the stunning 4th-century parish church at its heart. In another way, though, the move was not a departure at all; he took the same exacting philosophy that had worked so gloriously for him with Barolo and Barbaresco to Sangiovese. Since then, the family has invested heavily in the property: planting at higher densities, building largely underground cellars, and treating the terroir with all the reverence its 900-year history of winemaking deserves.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: Brunello is big and brawny, and needs hearty, soulful, and ideally Tuscan cooking to match: bistecca alla fiorentina, wild boar ragù over pappardelle, a rack of lamb crusted with rosemary and garlic. The Rennina, with its finesse, is a lovely accompaniment to pan-seared duck or a three-mushroom risotto. The Sugarille packs a lot of power into each sip, and deserves the biggest cut on the table: a dry-aged porterhouse, or a slow-braised osso buco with plenty of marrow.
FUN FACT: Pieve Santa Restituta takes its name from a stunning 4th-century parish church that still stands at its heart. In the 12th century, the monks there kept registers identifying which specific sub-plots yielded the best wine-growing grapes. And some of those same plots are, today, the source of some of the region’s finest wines.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only source directly from the producer to ensure that your bottles arrive as they should: with pristine provenance guaranteed.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2026 (Dec.21st - Mar. 20th, 2027). With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MO, NY, OK, or TN. Large Formats not available in AZ, IN, LA, MN, NE, NM, NV, WA, or WI. This offer is valid for TWO WEEKS, or until sold out, and will expire on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026.