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Sagrantino di Montefalco "Vigna Cerrete" 2012 Paolo Bea
Sagrantino di Montefalco "Vigna Cerrete" 2012 Paolo Bea is the result of a sublime combination of premium grapes, unparalleled terroir, and production techniques that reflect the dedication and passion of a family for viticulture. The family estate has long owned a parcel in Cerrete, the highest vineyard in Montefalco, but it was only with the 2007 vintage that Giampiero deemed the vines old enough to do justice to the cru's potential. Characterized by poor, mineral-rich soils and altitude that preserves acidity (450-500 meters), Cerrete yields a wine no more powerful than Bea's titanic "Pagliaro," but with greater nuance and a more refined expression of detail.
In acknowledgment of its prestige, Giampiero grants it an additional year in Slavonian oak barrels, for an incredible five-year period in barrel before the long bottle aging. In line with Bea's other 2012 wines, this Cerrete evokes autumn with its warmly spicy nose, notes of fresh tobacco and moist soil, and a mellow, caressing fruit character. The greatness of the vineyard is expressed in a level of finesse that Bea's other wines, magnificent as they may be, cannot quite match.
The Cerrete vineyard perhaps represents the greatest combination of altitude and exposure in the appellation. The soil is similar to that of "Vigneto Pagliaro," the other main source of Sagrantino grapes for the estate, but the high altitude and location above the cooler valley situation of Pagliaro mean that the microclimate for Cerrete is a few degrees warmer, with slightly lower humidity. Fermentation begins naturally after a 45-day maceration, then the wine spends a year in steel tanks before resting for 43 months in large oak barrels.
The resulting wine is intense in almost every aspect, with a deep violet color, robust tannins, and power that announces itself from the first aromas through the persistent finish. Despite all this intensity, the wine is not heavy, as the terroir provides freshness and elegance that enchant the senses.
DENOMINATION: Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG
REGION: Umbria (Italy)
GRAPES: 100% Sagrantino
