Tasting Notes: Sagrantino

Montefalco, Umbria is home to sagrantino, a grape that makes a majestic dry red with strong tannins and rich fruit. Lovely, too, is its sweet expression, the dessert wine passito. Sagrantino also forms the backbone of a blend, montefalco rosso. White wines include fresh, light grechetto and elegant trebbiano spoletino. Here, 13 of our favorite bottles.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Paolo Bea Pagliaro 2007
Paolo Bea Pagliaro 2007

Paolo Bea Pagliaro 2007 ($75)
Maverick vintner Paolo Bea uses earth-friendly methods to make a sagrantino with a bordeaux soul: graphite, humus, and wild herbs.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Paolo Bea Passito 2006
Paolo Bea Passito 2006

Paolo Bea Passito 2006 ($95)
Rich but not too sweet, this debonair dessert wine tastes of black figs and earth.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Antonelli Chiusa di Pannone 2006
Antonelli Chiusa di Pannone 2006

Antonelli Chiusa di Pannone 2006 ($33) Meaty and smoky yet mellow, this is a great sagrantino for ragù.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Terre de la Custodia Rosso di Montefalco 2011
Terre de la Custodia Rosso di Montefalco 2011

Terre de la Custodia Rosso di Montefalco 2011 ($22) This sangiovese-based red has the scent of dusty road; chocolate and cherry notes resolve into an herbal finish.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012
Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012

Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012 ($20) A lovely white with a honey-suckle aroma, creamy texture, and well-meshed acids and oak.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Colpetrone Gold 2006
Colpetrone Gold 2006

Colpetrone Gold 2006 ($50)
The scent of charred bread crust yields to flavors of cassis and black cherry in this dry, rich red.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Scacciadiavoli Sagrantino 2008
Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Rosso 2010

Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Rosso 2010 ($20)
Cranberries, raisins, and smoke mingle in this swarthy red with pronounced but balanced tannins and acids.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Lungarotti Sagrantino 2008
Lungarotti Sagrantino 2008

Lungarotti Sagrantino 2008 ($30) A pretty red from one of Umbria’s most prominent winemaking families, this velvety wine offers herbs on the nose and a mouth full of roses, cocoa, and savory spices.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines
Arnaldo Caprai 25 Anni 2008

Arnaldo Caprai 25 Anni 2008 ($80)
Rich soil, iron, tobacco, and prunes mix with a surprising potpourri note in this gorgeously textured wine that’s great with steak.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines, grecante 2012
Arnaldo Caprai Grecante 2012

Arnaldo Caprai Grecante 2012 ($20)
A flowery nose fronts zesty acids, chalk, and steely minerals, with a lingering peach finish.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines, montefalco scacciadiavoli 2008
Scacciadiavoli Sagrantino 2008

Scacciadiavoli Sagrantino 2008 ($26)
Bright acidity keeps this sagrantino lithe; hints of licorice and rosemary give it exciting depth.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines, adanti montefalco 2010
Adanti Montefalco Rosso 2010

Adanti Montefalco Rosso 2010 ($15)
Tart and tannic with hints of bright cherry and earthy peat moss, this bargain red blend is a great wine to pair with pizza.

Drinks

Tasting Notes: Sagrantino

Montefalco, Umbria is home to sagrantino, a grape that makes a majestic dry red with strong tannins and rich fruit. Lovely, too, is its sweet expression, the dessert wine passito. Sagrantino also forms the backbone of a blend, montefalco rosso. White wines include fresh, light grechetto and elegant trebbiano spoletino. Here, 13 of our favorite bottles.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Paolo Bea Pagliaro 2007
Paolo Bea Pagliaro 2007

Paolo Bea Pagliaro 2007 ($75)
Maverick vintner Paolo Bea uses earth-friendly methods to make a sagrantino with a bordeaux soul: graphite, humus, and wild herbs.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Paolo Bea Passito 2006
Paolo Bea Passito 2006

Paolo Bea Passito 2006 ($95)
Rich but not too sweet, this debonair dessert wine tastes of black figs and earth.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Antonelli Chiusa di Pannone 2006
Antonelli Chiusa di Pannone 2006

Antonelli Chiusa di Pannone 2006 ($33) Meaty and smoky yet mellow, this is a great sagrantino for ragù.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Terre de la Custodia Rosso di Montefalco 2011
Terre de la Custodia Rosso di Montefalco 2011

Terre de la Custodia Rosso di Montefalco 2011 ($22) This sangiovese-based red has the scent of dusty road; chocolate and cherry notes resolve into an herbal finish.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012
Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012

Perticaia Trebbiano Spoletino 2012 ($20) A lovely white with a honey-suckle aroma, creamy texture, and well-meshed acids and oak.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Colpetrone Gold 2006
Colpetrone Gold 2006

Colpetrone Gold 2006 ($50)
The scent of charred bread crust yields to flavors of cassis and black cherry in this dry, rich red.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Scacciadiavoli Sagrantino 2008
Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Rosso 2010

Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Rosso 2010 ($20)
Cranberries, raisins, and smoke mingle in this swarthy red with pronounced but balanced tannins and acids.

tasting notes, sagrantino wine, wines to buy, Lungarotti Sagrantino 2008
Lungarotti Sagrantino 2008

Lungarotti Sagrantino 2008 ($30) A pretty red from one of Umbria’s most prominent winemaking families, this velvety wine offers herbs on the nose and a mouth full of roses, cocoa, and savory spices.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines
Arnaldo Caprai 25 Anni 2008

Arnaldo Caprai 25 Anni 2008 ($80)
Rich soil, iron, tobacco, and prunes mix with a surprising potpourri note in this gorgeously textured wine that’s great with steak.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines, grecante 2012
Arnaldo Caprai Grecante 2012

Arnaldo Caprai Grecante 2012 ($20)
A flowery nose fronts zesty acids, chalk, and steely minerals, with a lingering peach finish.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines, montefalco scacciadiavoli 2008
Scacciadiavoli Sagrantino 2008

Scacciadiavoli Sagrantino 2008 ($26)
Bright acidity keeps this sagrantino lithe; hints of licorice and rosemary give it exciting depth.

sagrantino wines, umbrian wine, italian wines, adanti montefalco 2010
Adanti Montefalco Rosso 2010

Adanti Montefalco Rosso 2010 ($15)
Tart and tannic with hints of bright cherry and earthy peat moss, this bargain red blend is a great wine to pair with pizza.

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