2018 Arnaldo-Caprai Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$48.00USD

This is 100% Sagrantino from central Italy.  Typically, this wine needs a minimum of 10 years ageing, but, it's nice to try one young to determine if it is worth purchasing more.  Purple in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with a "sweet" scent of black cherries, dust, cloves and slight vanilla note.  Full bodied.  Very tannic!  On the palate, this is deep but tight.  Black cherries with cloves and black pepper.  A bit of anise on the finish.  This is 15.5% abv., but not noticeable while drinking.  It is delicious but needs another five to ten years cellaring and then shoul

2015 Azienda Agricola di Angelo Calcabrina Umbria Calcabrina Foglio 11, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

This is 100% Sagrantino from the heart of Italy (Umbria).  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.  The nose has black cherries, spice and slight anise.  Medium bodied.  Good acidity.  Soft tannins.  On the palate, this has nice black cherry fruit with some underlying char.  Crisp.  Long finish.  This is better with some food to cut the acidity.  Pasta is classic.  Drink over the next fie to eight years.  

2001 Arnaldo-Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco Collepiano, Italy,

Vintage: 
2001
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$89.00USD

This is from Umbria in Italy.  This bottle was bought on release and cellared.  Shared with friends who don't particularly like older wines and they did not like it.  I, however, was captivated by it.  Purple in color, opaque and mostly bright.  The nose has plums, black cherries, dust, and roasted herbs.  Full bodied.  Dense.  Medium tannins.  On the palate, not much fruit left but some black cherries.  Lots of tertiary notes of dust, tobacco, forest floor and minerality.  Strong acidity.  Complex and layered.  Nice finish.  Contemplative.  This is fully mature and past prime for some.  It

2018 Azienda Agricola di Angelo Calcabrina Umbria Calcabrina Foglio 61, Italy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 80% Sangiovese and 20% Sagrantino.  An excellent value.  Deep ruby in color, mostly opaque and bright.  Medium bodied.  Excellent acidity.  The palate has cherries, some black cherries and slight mocha.  Some depth.  Light tannins.  This is drinking well now and may improve a bit.  It will make excellent drinking over the next eight to ten years.  This will work great with pizza or pasta.  

2006 Paolo Bea Sagrantino di Montefalco Secco Pagliaro, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2006
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$145.00USD

This is one of the great wines of Italy even if relatively obscure to the general wine drinking public.  it is made from the Sagrantino grape which is tannic and needs time to develop.  This is 13 years old and still needs more time until peak.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, slight coffee and anise.  On the palate, a wall of black cherry fruit with firm tannins.  It is thick and delicious.  With air, some additional notes of anise and spice come out on the palate.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  

2014 Tenuta Col Falco Sagrantino di Montefalco, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-

Sagrantino is another of those Italian grapes that seem to take a long time to mature.  That said, this is drinking surprisingly well if a bit tannic already.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, black licorice, and roasted herbs.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  Lovely black cherry fruit with an underlying charred damp earth.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  This went great with a pasta dish.  A bit pricey for the wine at $31 but that is more than fair for the quality.  This will continue to integrate for at least five years and be good until 2029 and probably beyond.  

2016 Cantine Briziarelli Montefalco Montefalco Rosso, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+

This is a blend of Sangiovese 60%, Merlot 30%, Sagrantino 10%.  It was purchased in Italy and brought back by friends.  This is one of those simple wines that probably tastes better young and certainly when consumed on vacation.  That said, it was delightful in a local Italian restaurant with some simple pasta dishes.  This vintage doesn't seem available in the US, but later vintages retail for around $16.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, roasted herbs and a bit of chocolate.  Just guessing, but this likely sees no oak.  On the palate, this has nice acidity.  The cherries come t

2013 Tenuta Col Falco Montefalco Rosso, Italy, Umbria, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is a blend of 65% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, and 20% Merlot  from Umbria in Italy.  It is an excellent value that is just starting to hit its drinking window.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, a bit of dry earth and char.  On the palate, this mostly about cherries with a bit of chocolate.  Medium bodied with good acidity, this is not a big wine but there is plenty of fruit.  It unwinds in the glass and shows moderated depth and complexity.  Good finish.  This is about or close to peak but should has another ten years at this level.  It will work well with pasta

Sagrantino di Montefalco: From Umbria Comes The Best Red Wine You Never Tasted!

The region of Umbria sits landlocked in the center of Italy. With Tuscany to the Northwest, the Marches to the East and Latium with Rome to the South West, it is a beautiful region that sometimes gets lost in the conversations about Italy. Umbria has one wine that gets some international recognition; their famous white wine Orvieto. In fact, many agri-tourismo wineries surround the quaint medieval town of Orvieto which has become something of a destination for a few relaxing days while touring Italy. But, there is also a red, Sagrantino di Montefalco, which also hails from Umbria that is worth putting on your radar.

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