Montefalco, Umbria, Italy
In the heart of Umbria, southeast of Tuscany in central Italy, the Montefalco region has a long and successful history with the noble Sangiovese grape, as well as with its own special variety, Sagrantino. Umbria’s Arnaldo Caprai estate is Montefalco’s guiding light, with its benchmark Sagrantinos among the most distinctive, age-worthy, and highly sought after of all Italian wines. Caprai’s 2018 Montefalco Rosso fuses Sangiovese’s (70%) bright cherry and leather notes with Sagrantino’s (15%) dark, smoky elderberry, licorice, and mineral tones, and Merlot’s (15%) seductive expressions of plum and chocolate. Translucent black-ruby in the glass, the wine is a big, chewy, satisfying red with beautiful floral top notes, firm tannins, earthy undertones, and plenty of cellaring potential. Spicy cinnamon, anise, and tobacco notes linger on the long finish. We suggest enjoying this palate-staining, rustic-yet-polished red now or over the coming ten years with pork ribs, eggplant parmigiana, lamb dishes, hanger steaks, salumi, grilled portobello mushrooms, and hearty pasta dishes topped with Pecorino Romano.
A March 2022 newsletter selection
