Dean posted this in response to a request on the "A Diatribe -- taste of place" thread but I thought it deserved its own thread, so........
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Sagrantino si the grape grown indigenously in the Montefalco area. It tends to high sugar levels theu wines made from this grape tend to be alcoholic (no comments on the drinkers of this wine please.....). There are two styles of Sagrantino- "normale" and "passito" The passito isdried on trays and the grapes are allowd to shrivel. The result is an even higher alcohol content in the resuating wine. Some Passito are seemingly sweet while others actually have residual sugar. Think of them as a late harvest or late picked zinfandel in California.
The "straight" sagrantino are wonderful: huge, massive and full of flavor. These are seriuos wines that demand full flavored foods- game stews, thick steaks grilled over a wood fire, fine cheeses (parmigiano reggiano srizzled with old balsamico would be nice as would a percorino di Fossa or even a blue like mountain Gorgonzola). It is also a great match with grilled procini and truffle dishes,
There is another montefalco and that is Rosso di Montefalco which is predominately Sagrantino with other graped put in the blend for softness and lighter body.
I am not too familiar with producers, having only had a few sagrantino over the years. A Caprai is superb and there is one other producer I also love but whose name I forget.
When baad, these wines can be a tough drink because they can be harsh and bitter and alcoholic. When great they rival Amarone for greatness.
Dean
If you're lost, you're just having an adventure.......
I toured the Paolo Bea winery..and his wine was incredible, I don't see it very many places for sale or in any of the guide books. I quess he spends his advertising money elsewhere..such as in restoring the Benozzolo Gozzoli Fresco's in the Church of Montefalco! What a guy!!! I don't see the site in English, but they are having their wine festival in September! looks fabulous I may have to go back!
Judy Divina Cucina Florence Everyone should try being Italian at least once a day!!
I found the Paolo Bea Sagrantino di Montefalco at the Wine House in Los Angeles. They only had two bottles, I bought both, but perhaps they have more now.
I drank one bottle already (bad, BAD Shannon) and it was fantastic. I will try to age the other bottle for a while.
Venice, like falling to the bottom of a turquoise fishbowl...
Posts: 5027 | Location: Ocean Beach, California | Registered: 20 March 2002
Lucky you! I am hoarding my bottles I got last year ..but I have decided to return for the wine festival in September so perhaps I CAN drink some now! Even in Italy, it is not easy to buy wine from out of your region..they don't know why you would want to!
Judy Divina Cucina Florence Everyone should try being Italian at least once a day!!
So many ways I would like to respond to this. First, I would like to thank you, Dean, so much for your informative discourse on all the wines. Second, Diva, I would love to get information about visiting at Paolo Bea's vineyard (or is it only open to the "trade").This Spring I had recommended Bea's sagrantino to Bill Thayer when I saw that Bill enjoyed amarone and I thought the sagrantino a similar type wine (ie.big red), lower in price, and accessible in Bill's usual haunts. Third,as an antidote to Dean's diatribe on another topic, I tried Bea's sagrantino at the recommendation of the owner of Taverna de' Massari in Norcia (this is a pretty,quiet,small restaurant with carefully prepared food at a reasonable cost), who said Paolo was a friend of his. While I had tried several sagrantinos before, it was serendipity and a willness to explore which led me to this one which, to my taste, is now the standard bearer for sagrantino. At least it will be until I see what I can "discover" in the next hill town. Enough.
Thanks to a friend of Judy's, I have the email address of the Bea winery. I emailed him yesterday in my crippled Italian and was pleased with a reply today. I had not even heard of this source prior to a conversation with Judy and now am set up to visit the Bea establishment in a couple of weeks. Have to buy another carrying case for the trip home.
bea@informanet.it
Posts: 465 | Location: hilton head island, SC | Registered: 16 July 2001
We brought back 6 bottles of 1997 Sagrantino from the Caprai vineyard. They're awesome. In total, between Umbria and Tuscany, we bought about 18 bottles in all and about 6 bottles of olive oil from various vineyards. We also came home with 2 additional carry-on rolling bags to carry all of our goodies!
It's been well worth it as when we judiciously open them we bring back memories of our wonderful adventures.
Edna
Posts: 310 | Location: Irvington, New York | Registered: 28 July 2001
Sorry to take this thread in a different direction, but I wanted to contact Umbriaphile and there is no email address on your information page! Just wondering about your preparations for your October house-hunting trip! You can email me privately to continue tis discussion! Thanks for your indulgence.
Posts: 4811 | Location: Umbria | Registered: 29 June 2001
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