WINERY Pieve Santa Restituta is Gaja’s estate in Montalcino, purchased in 1994. It is the family’s first expansion outside the Barbaresco and Barolo areas since its establishment in 1859.

WINE Sugarille is the name given to the parish estate, as a result of the inventory drawn up in 1547 by Giovanni Sampieri. Sugarille is the name both of the vineyard and the wine.

A single vineyard facing south and covering a surface of 4.5 hectares mainly consisting of clay and limestone, with the presence of galestro.

Winter and spring were cold and dry. Budding was delayed and the grape bunches were small in size. It rained heavily in May, but the lower temperatures helped to prevent disease. Total rainfall during the vintage was in line with seasonal averages, but most of the rain occurred in May and from July to September. The weather was hot from June through August. Rain at the end of July into August played an important role in preventing thermal shock. Mistral winds help avoid the formation of mold. Throughout September, the temperatures fluctuated significantly and a final rainfall around the middle of the month helped the grapes reach full ripeness. The harvest began on September 22 and ended October 6. The grapes were healthy and fully ripened, with a balanced proportion between skin and juice.

Considering the continued warm and dry temperatures that Montalcino has witnessed in the last years, 2018 is a vintage characterized by freshness and finesse with bright fruit, medium body, and excellent acidity.

Fermentation and maceration for around three weeks followed by 24 months of aging in oak and another six months in concrete vats.

Intense perfumes of black berry, plums and roots, together with a earthy and petrol hint. Delicate mineral notes, with a taste of bloody oranges and dark fruit; it is compact, with a sweet entrance and fullness in the mid-palate. The wine boasts mature, soft, and enveloping tannins that give length and intensity.