Delicate and understated in the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina whisps up with a pleasantly earthy mix of dried strawberries, roses and clove nuances. This coasts silky textural fruits across a core of brisk acidity and saline-minerals in an untethered Brunello of pure elegance. It finishes with ample tannins, but also remarkably fresh, leaving notes of red plum, mocha and tobacco to linger. This harmonious vintage of Rennina should evolve beautifully in collectors’ cellars. EG

Complex, wild and energetic with an intellectual array of fresh truffles, bramble berries, bark, cardamom, dried porcini, miso and rosemary. Full-bodied yet agile, with firm, tight tannins and sharp acidity. Powerful and tight. Needs a few years to open. Try after 2025.

A cool and wet growing season in 2018 brings forth a Brunello that speaks with an accent of elegance. Sourced from three vineyard sites near a church dating to 715 AD—aromatics of Mediterranean herbs, thyme, rosemary and tarragon open to floral notes and crushed stone minerality. The palate is lithe, as Brunello goes. Lifted red and blue berry fruits and a melange of chalky minerality and savoury dried herbs mark the finish with freshness. Drinking Window: 2023 - 2036
Tasted by: Clive Pursehouse (at Manhatta, New York City, 10 Jun 2023)
Part of Gaja masterclass: DFWE New York

Pieve Santa Restituta made the hard decision to skip production in the hot and dry 2017 vintage, and thus returns to the market with its 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Rennina. Made with a blend of fruit from three vineyard sites with very different soil profiles, the Rennina maintains its distinct personality with elegant aromas of red fruit, forest berry, cassis, balsam herb and toasted almond. This vintage shows a hint of baked clay or black olive that underlines the warm vintage conditions. The wine is generous in terms of mouthfeel, with a nice fullness that remains graceful at the same time. ML

The 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Rennina pours a deep ruby hue, with aromas of cherry lozenge, rosemary, pressed flowers, and turned. It is energetic and has ultra-fine tannins as well as vibrant acidity, with crunchy red fruits and underlying iron-rich mineral notes, dried herbs, and lingering floral perfume. Savory and mouthwatering, with a more classically styled and angular feel, it will drink well 2024-2040. AF

Mid to deep ruby with orange tinges. A little more open and richer on the nose than Sugarille and supple and juicy, if a little leaner, on the palate, which makes the tannins stand out a little right now. Just a hint of oak.
Tasted Dec 2022 - Walter Speller