Gaja Pieve Santa Restituta Brunello di Montalcino Sugarille 2013

On the nose, a crescendo of dark berries, Amarena cherry, tar, licorice and smoky notes. The intensity continues on the palate: Sugarille is uncompromisingly punchy, with layered fruit, prominent tannin and gorgeous acid wire. With aeration, the imposance and opulence gives way to a wonderful finesse that will refine and develop with further years of bottle age.

Brilliant, rich ruby with garnet. Opens with intense earthy notes, of black truffle and tobacco, then lots of blackberry. Round and lush in attack and progression, plenty of grippy tannin wrapped in sweet enamel, builds long, juicy and with firm pressure on the final.