About Angelo Gaja:  Our sommelier tells us that Mr. Gaja is a "standout and pioneer" in the world of winemaking masters, one who has provided inspiration for countless others in the craft.  He is credited with developing techniques that have revolutionized winemaking in Italy.  Among many other accolades, he has been referred to as "the undisputed king of Barbaresco", and "the man who dragged Piedmont into the modern world".  His Barbaresco wine is considered a status symbol on a par with Château Lafite-Rothschild or Krug.
The reputation of Gaja wines evolved over the years as his uncompromising policy became established. He refused to sell 12,000 cases of 1984 Barbaresco under the Gaja label, opting instead to sell it off in bulk because it did not meet with his satisfaction.  Wine Spectator then proclaimed that the 1985 Gaja Barbarescos were "the finest wines ever made in Italy". He received the selection for the 1997 Wine Spectator Distinguished Service Award, and for "1998 Decanter Man of the Year".  Pieve Santa Restituta estate, where the Sugarille Brunello di Montalcino is produced, was founded in 1994.  Mr. Gaja continued to apply his unwavering standards to these wines as well, resulting in no bottlings for the 2002, 2003 and 2005 Sugarille Brunello.

Winery:  "The unique position and soil structure of the Sugarille vineyard--calcareous clay with a gently sloping southern exposure--give this wine an expressive, powerful character. This is a very special terroir, producing outstanding, long-aging single-vineyard Brunello."

Wired For Wine:  There is no two ways about it; if you're in the room with this Gaja Sugarille Brunello di Montalcino, you are in the presence of greatness.  From famed, celebrated and highly acclaimed winemaker Angelo Gaja (see above), this Brunello is from his first property in Tuscany, and is a phenomenal addition to any cellar, rack or table.  Where to begin?  If you were in Tuscany, your first bottle of this world-class wine could easily be enjoyed with chicken livers threaded onto rosemary sprigs, grilled and then dressed with lemon juice and olive oil to be eaten with thinly sliced radishes.  Mozzafiato!  The rich, complex, ripe fruit, elegant structure and currently firm tannins (which mellow beautifully over time) make this Gaja a natural with sausage, beef, braised chicken, simple yet solid pasta dishes and much more.  A high wow factor next to this Sugarille Brunello is parmesan-crusted polenta with a sausage-mushroom ragoût.  Another choice is chicken braised in red wine with tomatoes, carrots and peas.  A lovely choice for the tannins in this magnificent Montepulciano is grilled lamb chops with a porcini mustard.  Essere ancora il mio cuore!  Our favorite comfort food choice is a bottomless bowl of Sunday ragù over fresh fettucine.  It's truly the stuff dreams are made of.  Nobody will want to leave your table at this point, so dream on and bring out an aged Provolone cheese.  It's a little spicy and yet creamy at the same time, and it will go hand in hand with this stunning Gaja.  Sogni d'oro winelovers!

Bottle:  750ml, cork
Varietal:  100% Sangiovese
Alcohol:  @14.0%
Ageing:   12 months in barriques, 12 months in large oak casks, minimum of 24 months bottle aging
Region:   Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy