Paolo Bea 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Pagliaro

100% Sagrantino. Dried plums, dried cherries, wild berries, cherry compote, balsamic, savory herbs, truffle, and earth. The flavors follow seamlessly from the aromas. The tannins are formidable, ripe and penetrating and nicely extend the finish to extraordinary lengths. Best to give this a few years in the cellar, 7-10 from vintage, but can be tamed with a robust plate of pork shoulder or wild boar ragu. Organic.

The fabled local grape of Montefalco is the Sagrantino and the Pagliaro vineyard, situated at 1,300 feet in altitude, is dedicated in large part to this grape variety. The harvest of Sagrantino normally occurs during the second half of October. The cuvaison extends for forty to fifty days. The wines is then aged for one year in stainless steel, another two years in large Slavonian oak barrels and, finally, spends one more year in bottle (the wine, like all Bea wines, is unfiltered) before release. Annual production from the Pagliaro vineyard is 15,000 to 20,000 bottles.