Lungarotti Rubesco Rosso di Torgiano 2019 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious, mainly Sangiovese-based red wine from the lesser-known region of Umbria. It was featured on the cover of the recent March 4 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection and is widely available across Ontario now.

It is produced by Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti, a family-owned winery that was founded in the 1960's in Torgiano, the heart of Umbria in central Italy. The pioneering founder was Giorgio Lungarotti and the family is a symbol of Umbrian oenological excellence within the region and Italy. He transformed the agricultural firm into a winemaking estate, focusing on traditional grape varieties, and implementing modern vine training systems and technology in the cellars.

Today, Lungarotti is led by Maria Grazia, wife of the late Giorgio, and their two daughters - Chiara and Teresa. The third generation of the family has also joined the business, which spans 250 hectares of vineyards across their two estates, one each in Torgiano and Montefalco. Together, they are focused on quality wine production and sustainability.

The name of this wine, Rubesco, is a trademark of Lungarotti and derives from the Latin verb "rubescere", which means "to blush" (with joy). On the label of this wine is an image that recalls the panel depicting the harvest from the Fontana Maggiore in Perugia, a fountain that was built in approximately 1277 and is one of Italy's most beautiful Medieval fountains. It was the Rubesco wine in 1962 that helped Lungarotti establish the Torgiano winegrowing region. The success of this wine fueled Lungarotti's passion for the region's grapes and helped the region achieve Torgiano DOC status in 1968, Umbria's first DOC. The terroir in Torgiano is well-suited to cultivating expressive, high-quality Sangiovese, a grape that mirrors its terrain and climate very well.

I enjoyed the previous vintage of this wine, the 2018 Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese/Colorino, back in December 2021, and while both the 2018 and 2019 are composed of the same grape varieties, this vintage has slightly more Sangiovese (95%) with 5% Colorino completing the blend. The grapes were grown on medium mix soils with a looser structure on the higher hillsides, and soils with medium depth, good structure, and a limestone sub-soil. The grapes were harvested between the end of September and early October and fermented in stainless steel tanks at a controlled temperature with 15 days of skin contact. It was refined for one year in casks, and after a light filtration it was further refined by spending one year in bottle. Let's see how this 2019 Rosso di Torgiano is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI RUBESCO ROSSO DI TORGIANO 2019 - DOC, Umbria, Italy (#368548) (XD) - $21.95
This blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Colorino has a ripe, medium-high intensity nose offering attractive, lightly dried red cherry and floral aromas, plus clove, spices, and raspberry, with savoury earth undertones. It's mid-weighted on the very ripe palate with delicious dark red cherry, clove, spices, raspberry, and earthy replays on the flavour profile. It has refreshing acidity and supple, lightly textured tannins. Slightly tangy on the mid-palate with savoury mineral notes lingering on the long, juicy, and succulent finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the couple of years. Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines by Cantine Lungarotti are available at the LCBO and through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Lungarotti San Giorgio 2018 (Umbria) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2016 Lungarotti San Giorgio from Umbria nearly three years ago, tonight's red wine review is the latest vintage of this Super Umbrian red wine that arrived at the LCBO last month as part of the VINTAGES Classics Collection on January 5. It is still available for purchase through VINTAGES Shop Online and also appears to be available at select LCBO outlets within the GTA and Ottawa.

It is produced by Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti, a winery founded in the 1960's in Torgiano, the heart and birthplace of Umbrian wine, in central Italy. Lungarotti is a symbol of Umbrian oenological excellence within the region and Italy. With a story of successes, Lungarotti became a major driving force for new opportunities in the region - with wine as the centrepiece.

Today, the family business is led by Maria Grazia, wife of the pioneering founder and late Giorgio Lungarotti, and their two daughters, Chiara and Teresa. With the third generation of the family, Teresa's son, Francesco, and daughter, Gemma, are also involved in the business. Lungarotti has two estates - one in Torgiano and one in Montefalco, and 250 hectares of vineyards. As a pioneer in modern Italian oenology, Lungarotti is focused on quality wine production and sustainability.

Lungarotti has been practicing sustainable viticulture for many years. They safeguard the land and everything that allows it to bear fruit which, to a great extent, depends on respecting the environment. For Lungarotti, sustainability means not only protecting the environment, but also using energy wisely, and continuously experimenting and applying new techniques and solutions to swiftly adapt to climate change. The choices they make are guided by the desire to obtain the best possible grapes, while respecting the vine, biodiversity of the soil, and the vineyard environment. To achieve this, they have undertaken various projects in both the vineyards and cellars.

This red wine is dedicated to Saint George (a.k.a. San Giorgio). According to an ancient custom that is still practiced today in the countryside of Torgiano, on the eve of the feast of Saint George, on April 23rd, propitiatory bonfires are still lit in the vineyards with cuttings from the winter vine pruning, hoping for a good harvest. The label depicts the preparatory drawing by Raffaello for "Saint George and the Dragon", which is housed at the Louvre in Paris. The wine label also bears the signature of Giorgio Lungarotti who introduced Cabernet Sauvignon to Umbria in the 1960s and was one of the first in Italy to blend it with Sangiovese, creating this "Super Umbrian" whose first vintage dates back
to 1977.

Like the previous vintage, this red wine is crafted with equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese and harvested separately. The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown on soils with pebbles and a medium mix that leans towards limestone on a tufa subsoil, while the Sangiovese is from a plot within the Monticchio Vineyard which has clay layers alternating with sandy fringes in the lower part of the vineyard. It was fermented in stainless steel, undergoing 25-28 days of maceration on skins. The wine was then aged in barrique for 12 months, followed by at least 1 year in bottle. From what was apparently an unusually good vintage, let's see how this 2018 Super Umbrian is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI SAN GIORGIO 2018 - IGT Umbria Rosso, Italy (#62877) (XD) - $62
A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, this has a medium-high intensity nose that delivers ripe red fruited aromas of currant, wet earth, cassis, brambly, cherry, and cedary oak spices with hints of dried leafy green herbs. It's well-structured on the medium-full bodied palate with lovely red & black fruited notes of currant, cherry, cedar oak spice, clove, cassis, and earthy flavours. It's supported by juicy, balanced acids and smooth, fine grained, and well-knit tannins. Subtle grippiness on the mid-palate, while savoury earthy, spice, and even some mineral notes linger on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoyable now and will drink nicely for at least the next 5+ years. Recommended buy! Score: 91+ pts

Other lovely wines by Lungarotti are available not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Lungarotti IlBio Rosso 2020 (Umbria) - Wine Review

After enjoying the 2016 Lungarotti IlBio Rosso a couple of years ago, tonight's organic red wine review is the latest vintage of this IGT wine from Umbria that arrived at the LCBO over the weekend as part the December 17 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in the early 1960s by Giorgio Lungarotti when he brought together the farms of a few families, Cantine Lungarotti soon became a major force in the comune of Torgiano, where it is based, as well as throughout Umbria, opening up new opportunities with wine as the centrepiece. Although the establishment Cantine Lungarotti is fairly recent, the Lungarotti family history goes back to the 1700s when they were farmers in the Middle Tiber Valley. It was during this time that family began to realize the potential of the Umbrian land to produce wine and oil. The mid-1990s marked the beginning of the replanting of vineyards according to new agronomic techniques with an eyes towards ecological conscience. In 2010, Lungarotti began the organic cultivation of 20 hectares of vines at the Montefalco Estate and in 2017 they launched their first organic wine - the 2015 IlBio Rosso.

Depicted on the label of this organic red wine is the land registry map of the Lungarotti Azienda Agraria's Montefalco Estate, which is located along provincial road SP 445 that connects Montefalco with the sanctuary of Madonna della Stella. In the past, land registry maps used to list the principal elements of each farm such as number of inhabitants and workers, crops, and yields. In a similar fashion, Lungarotti has listed the main characteristics of both the vineyard where they grow grapes, as well as of the wine itself.

Not listed on the label are the grapes used to craft this red wine. Although the back label mentions that it is produced using the "King" of the varietals of Montefalco, Italian wine law states that the varietal can only be indicated on the label when it is a local DOCG wine. In Montefalco, a DOCG wine is very structured and complex. However, because Lungarotti wanted to craft a more pleasant and appealing wine, it was vinified at lower temperatures and limited its extraction, resulting in a wine that is classified as an IGT. This organic red wine is, in fact, crafted with 100% Sagrantino, that was grown at 350 metres above sea level on medium mixture soils with light skeleton and well-draining sub-soils at average depth. The vineyards are exposed to the south and southwest. It was fermented in stainless steel and then aged for 10 months in 30 hectolitre casks, followed by further refinement in bottle for 6 months. Let's see how this latest Sagrantino from Umbria is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI ILBIO ROSSO 2020 - IGT Umbria, Italy (#16573) (XD) - $26.95
Crafted with Sagrantino, this organic wine has a medium+ intensity nose offering a pleasing mix of red cherry, wet earth, and and sweet baking spice aromas with touches of dried floral, cinnamon, currant, and sweet tobacco. It's medium+ bodied with structured, gritty, chalky, and drying tannins along with fresh acidity. Flavours of red and dark cherries, savoury wet earth, and tobacco. There's some warmth on the mid-palate, while savoury woodsmoke notes linger on the finish, with good length. Enjoy with salty protein. Score: 88+ pts

Other lovely wines by Lungarotti can be found not only at the LCBO, but also through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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3Q Umbria Rosso 2018 (Italy) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is a delicious red wine from Italy that comes in eco-friendly packaging. The world's first paper wine bottle was launched at the LCBO in March and is widely available across Ontario.

The wine is produced by Cantina Goccia. It was founded 15 years ago and borne out of the pure love of Umbria and its unrecognized potential as a superb wine producing area deep in the heart of Italy when they transformed an unloved vineyard into an award-winning producer of outstanding wines. With a focus on tradition, quality, and innovation, Cantina Goccia is proud to be the very first vineyard to use the Frugal Bottle, the world's first paper wine bottle.

Packaged by Frugalpac, the outer shell of this "bottle" is made with 94% recycled cardboard, which is 5 times lighter than a glass bottle, making it easier to carry and transport. I can attest that this bottle is quite light, and helps reduce its carbon footprint, which is already 84% less than glass and 1/3 less than 100% plastic. To keep the wine inside safe, it uses a food-grade liner. To recycle, simply split the bottle, remove the liner, and recycle the paper shell.

Tasting Note:

3Q UMBRIA ROSSO 2018 - IGT Umbria, Italy (#22878) (XD) - $16.95
Screw cap. This unoaked blend of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Merlot has a medium-high intensity nose that is spicy and perfumed with red and black fruit, blackberry, currant, cassis, plum, and herbs with chocolate and wet earth tones. It's medium-full bodied on the ripe, dry, and fruity palate with plummy, red and black cherry, currant, herbs, and savoury earth flavours. Fresh acids and supple, grainy textured tannins offer a pleasing mouthfeel, while earthy and chocolate notes with a slight tang linger on the finish, with very good length. Recommended buy for the juice and commendable packaging! Score: 88 pts

Other wines by Cantina Goccia can be ordered through their Agent - DB Wine & Spirits.

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Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese/Colorino 2018 (Umbria) - Wine Review

After enjoying the lovely 2015 Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese/Colorino near two years ago, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely red wine that arrived at the LCBO today as part of the December 11th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Founded in central Italy the early 1960's, Cantine Lungarotti soon became a driving force that opened up new opportunities not only for Torgiano (a commune in the Province of Perugia in Umbria), but also for whole region of Umbria - with wine as the centrepiece.

This Rubesco is Lungarotti's most exported wine worldwide. The name "Rubesco" is derived from the Latin verb "rubescere", which means "to blush" (with joy). Depicted on the label is the harvest from a panel found at the Fontana Maggiore in the city of Perugia, one of Italy's most beautiful Medieval fountains. This fountain was built in approximately 1277.

The 2018 vintage of this wine remains a blend of Sangiovese and Colorino and although I wasn't able to confirm the exact composition, I would expect it to be similar to the previous vintage that was a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino. The grapes were grown on a mixture of looser structure soils on higher hillsides, and in other areas the soils had good structure with a limestone subsoil. Fermentation took place in stainless steel at controlled temperatures with 15 days of skin contact. It was then aged for one year in casks, followed by a year in bottle prior to release. Reports indicate that the 2018 vintage was a success for the region, producing beautifully balanced wines. Let's see how this 2018 red wine from Umbria is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI RUBESCO SANGIOVESE/COLORINO 2018 - DOC Rosso di Torgiano, Umbria, Italy (#368548) (XD) - $19.95
A blend of predominantly Sangiovese with Colorino adding colour and tannin, it has a pleasing, medium-high intensity nose has aromas of dark cherry, black plum, stony mineral, and pepper spice accented with violet. On the medium+ bodied palate it has spicy, tangy dark cherry, black plum, mineral, and tobacco flavours supported by fresh, juicy, and well-balanced acidity. The structured, dusty textured tannins have some chalky grip and will reward ageing. I like the stony mineral notes that linger on the long finish. Recommended buy. Score: 89 pts

You may find one or two wines from Lungarotti at the LCBO, while others from their lovely portfolio can be ordered through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Lungarotti Rosso di Montefalco 2016 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this lovely organic red wine from Montefalco, in central west Umbria, that landed at the LCBO last weekend as part of the September 18 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Although the Lungarotti family had been producing wine and oil since the 1700s, it was in 1949 when Giorgio Lungarotti was among a group of exhibitors at the Perugia Grape Exhibition and realized the need to modernize viticulture in Umbria. In the early 1960s, he founded Cantine Lungarotti in Torgiano, Umbria. With deep knowledge of the climate, soil, and environment in Umbria, Giorgio Lungarotti played an important role in the the creation of the DOC Montefalco appellation in 1979.

This red wine is from Lungarotti's estate in Montefalco. The winery is located in Turrita di Montefalco and was established after they purchased 20 hectares of land in 2000 and planted vineyards for the production of a range of Sagrantino-based wines. The cellars are located completely underground, and uses a gravity flow system from the time the grapes arrives at the winery, through to vinification and cellaring. The underground cellars also allow for natural control of ambient temperatures. Being environmentally conscious, all of the wines produced at the Montefalco estate are certified organic from the 2014 vintage onwards.

Depicted on the label of this red wine is a view of the Montefalco winery. In the foreground is a falcon because falcon hunting was practiced here and was a passion of Emperor Frederick II of Swabia.

Rosso di Montefalco DOC wines tend to be softer and easier to drink than the DOCG wines of Montefalco (which are 100% Sagrantino) thanks to the varietals in the blend. Montefalco Rosso wines are blends composed of 60-70% Sangiovese, 10-15% Sagrantino, and the rest from other red grape varieties, but typically Merlot. This organic Rosso di Montefalco is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Sagrantino that was grown on loose soils with a sandy-clayey texture and a subsoils of limestone. It was fermented in stainless steel, followed by ageing in barriques and 3-ton casks for 12 months. The wine spent a further 10 months ageing in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI ROSSO DI MONTEFALCO 2016 - DOC, Umbria, Italy (#577668) (XD) - $26.95
This organic red wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Sagrantino that has an elegant, perfumed, medium-high intensity nose of lovely red cherry, sweet spices, cinnamon, and floral aromas with wet earth notes providing a savoury aspect. It's medium-full bodied with lovely aroma replays plus some dark cherry notes on the flavour profile. It has juicy, succulent acids, while the firm, gritty, and drying tannins need a few years to integrate. Savoury and earthy with some minerals linger on the finish, with excellent length. Enjoyable now, this will benefit from a few years in the cellar. Recommended buy. Score: 90 pts

Other fine wines from Lungarotti can be purchased through their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Lungarotti IlBio Rosso 2016 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's wine review is this nice, organic red from Umbria that is new to the LCBO and arrived recently as part of the November 14th LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Cantine Lungarotti was founded in the early 1960s by Giorgio Lungarotti and soon became a major force on opening up new opportunities not only in Torgiano, but also throughout Umbria with wine as the centrepiece. The history of the Lungarotti family goes back to the 1700s - when they were farmers in the Middle Tiber Valley and began to realize the potential of the Umbrian land to produce wine and oil.

The grapes for this wine come from their Estate in Montefalco. Thanks to the contributions of Giorgio Lungarotti, the creation of the DOC Montefalco appellation in 1979 was made possible. In Umbria, Lungarotti has a deep knowledge of the climate, soil, environment, and people to create wines that express the land from which it originates. In the year 2000, Lungarotti purchased 20 hectares in the area and planted vineyards for the production of wines based on the grape Sagrantino.

The winery is located in Turrita di Montefalco and uses gravity-flow to move the wine around the facility. The cellars are completely underground, thereby naturally controlling the ambient temperature. Environmental awareness is central to the operations of Lungarotti, including the production of renewable energy from vine pruning residues. They have also been producing wines organically at the Montefalco Estate beginning with the 2014 harvest.

Although the label does not mention the varietals used to produce this bottle of red wine, it does mention that it is produced entirely with organically-grown "king" of the varietals. In fact, it is made with 100% Sagrantino. However, because Lungarotti wanted to create a fresher, less traditional style of Sagrantino, this led to a different vinification process which fell outside the DOCG regulations, resulting in the wine being classified as an "IGT". Let's see how this wine is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI ILBIO ROSSO 2016 - IGT Umbria, Italy (#16573) (XD) - $23.95
100% Sagrantino grown at 450 metres above sea level on shallow soils with a light presence of rocks, and southern exposure. Medium-high intensity aromatics are fresh with ripe, bright red and dark cherries, if slightly raisined, plus cassis, currant, and earthy vanillin oak notes. It's full bodied on the warm palate with firm, dusty, grippy tannins and juicy acidity. It has dark cherry, earthy, and vanillin oak flavours that linger through to the mouth-puckering, very dry and savoury finish, with good length. A nice introduction to the Sagrantino grape. Score: 88 pts

Other lovely wines from Lungarotti are available at the LCBO, as well as via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Lungarotti San Giorgio 2016 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine review is this lovely "Super Umbrian" that arrived in LCBO VINTAGES on September 5 as a Flagship Exclusive. Wines featured as Flagship Exclusives are available in limited quantities at select LCBO outlets across Ontario - click the 5-digit product code below to find a location with bottles available closest to you.

Cantine Giorgio Lungarotti was founded in the 1960's in Torgiano, the heart and birthplace of Umbrian wine. Lungarotti became a major driving force for new opportunities in the region - with wine as the centrepiece. Today, the 250 hectares of vineyards are run by sisters Chiara Lungarotti & Teresa Severini who have implemented innovative cultivation techniques based on sustainability and respect for the environment.

This red wine bears the signature of founder Giorgio Lungarotti, whose continuous desire to experiment led him to try Cabernet Sauvignon in Umbria. He introduced Cabernet Sauvignon in Umbria in the late 1950's to early 1960's, and it was still an uncommon varietal in the mid-1970's.

The Lungarotti San Giorgio was first created in 1977 and is a blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, becoming one of the first great wines to blend these two varietals and known as Super Umbrian. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for this wine come from a vineyard with a medium mix of pebbles and mostly limestone on a tufa subsoil, while the Sangiovese is from the Monticchio Vineyard that has clay layers alternating with sandy fringes in the lower part of the hillside. It was aged in barriques for 12 months, followed by at least 1 year in bottle.

The current bottling of the San Giorgio label depicts Saint George and the Dragon, from the famous painting by Raffaello displayed in the Gallerie degli Uffizi (a museum I visited many years ago), paying homage to the traditional feast of Saint George when propitiatory bonfires are still lit in the Torgiano vineyards with cuttings from the winter vine pruning.

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI SAN GIORGIO 2016 - IGT Umbria Rosso, Italy (#62877) (XD) - $51.95
A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese, this Super Umbrian has a medium-high intensity nose that needs some coaxing, but reveals pretty and complex aromas of red cherry, baking spice, clove, and savoury earthy notes with touches of dried spice and floral. The full-bodied, structured palate has cherry, clove, oak spice, earthy, and mocha chocolate flavours with touches of dried floral and berry tones. Tannins are fine-grained, textured, and quite drying, while acids are very good. Savoury and earthy on the long, juicy finish. You could open this now, but this will be great in 2-3 years and drink well until at least the end of the decade. Score: 90+ pts

A few bottles from Lungarotti are available through LCBO, while others can be purchased via their Agent - Profile Wine Group.

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Lungarotti Rubesco Sangiovese/Colorino 2015 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Hot on the heels of a 100% Colorino that I enjoyed a few days ago, tonight's wine review is a more traditional blend that also contains Colorino. This red wine consists of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino and will arrive in LCBO VINTAGES on March 2nd.

Lungarotti was founded in central Italy the early 60’s by Giorgio Lungarotti, and the company soon became a driving force that opened up new opportunities not only for Torgiano (a commune in the Province of Perugia in Umbria), but also for whole region of Umbria - with wine as the centrepiece.

Rubesco is a Lungarotti trademark deriving from the Latin verb "rubescere", meaning "to blush", therefore a joyous significance. The image on the label depicts harvest from one of the panels found at Fontana Maggiore in Perugia, one of Italy's most beautiful Medieval fountains that was built in approximately 1277.

The grapes for this wine were harvested from clayey-sandy soils of medium depth, with good
structure and a limestone subsoil. It has also spent one year ageing in oak casks, and one year in bottle prior to release.

Tasting Note:

LUNGAROTTI RUBESCO SANGIOVESE/COLORINO 2015 - DOC Rosso di Torgiano, Umbria, Italy (#368548) (XD) - $19.95
Blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino. Delicate, medium+ intensity nose of stony mineral followed by dark cherry, black plum, violet, and herbs that gain intensity with air. It is medium+ bodied with chewy, dusty and refined tannins. I like the mineral-driven flavour profile with dark berry-cherry, earth, herbs, and a hint of pepper spice notes. Acids are fresh and juicy. Excellent finish length with more mineral and earthy flavours. Enjoy over the next 3-5 years. Score: 89 pts

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Le Cimate Montefalco Rosso 2011 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Tonight's red wine is from Cantina Le Cimate, a fairly new winery in Montefalco that was started up by Francesca Bartoloni in 2011 to continue his family's tradition in agriculture that dates back to the 1800's.

The name of the family-owned winery "Le Cimate" was inspired from the hilly area where the winery is located, and is only 1 km southwest from Perticaia - a beautiful wine I tasted in August. Le Cimate is located at the peak of a hill, where one can get a very nice view of the Martani mountains and the town of Montefalco.

Vines for this wine were planted in 2001 and sit on a silt-clay soil that is moderately calcareous, fresh and deep and faces southeast. The wine is fermented in steel tanks and macerated for 15 days. Ageing occurs for 24 months, 12 of which are in Slovenian oak barrels, and 6 months in bottle.

In Ontario, this red wine is available via private order from Cottonwood Agency.

Tasting Note:

LE CIMATE MONTEFALCO ROSSO 2011 - DOC, Umbria, Italy (XD) - $30.50
Blend of 60% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, 15% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Raspberry and blackberry aromas from the cork. Perfumed nose of black plum, cherry, and hints of apple wood from the glass. The palate is medium-to-full bodied with black licorice, herbal, blackberry and mild cedar oak notes. Some minty flavours mid-palate. Bright acids. Finish is long with earthy and woody notes. Sweet tannins still a bit tight, but has good structure to improve over the next 2 years. Drink over the next 6-7 years. Will be enjoyed with homemade Chicken Lasagne by Chez Megz and could pair with red meats. Score: 89 pts

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Perticaia Montefalco Sagrantino 2009 (Umbria) - Wine Review

Photo credit: Azienda Agricola Perticaia

Tonight's wine hails from Casale of Montefalco, within central Umbria in central Italy.

A trip to this region in the early 90's by Perticaia's owner Guido Guardigli convinced him of the extraordinary potential of the region and its princely vine Sagrantino. In the year 2000, Perticaia - whose name means "plow" in Umbrian dialect - was founded by Mr. Guardigli. The vines at Perticaia are cultivated using sustainable farming methods. Today, 7 of the 15 hectares on the property are dedicated to Sagrantino de Montefalco (100% Sagrantino grapes).

This red wine goes through an interesting ageing process. It is aged for a total of 36 months, however, it spends 12 months in small oak barrels, 12 months in steel vats, and 12 months in bottle prior to release.

If you're a fan of big Italian red wines like Brunello and Barolo, you'll definitely want to check this one out. It is available by Private Order via their agent in Ontario - Mondo Vino.


PERTICAIA MONTEFALCO SAGRANTINO 2009 - DOCG, Umbria, Italy (XD) - $45.95

Tasting Note:

100% Sagrantino. Naturally fermented. Interesting sage, herbs and cinnamon spice aromas from the cork. Medium+ aromatics featuring nuances of blackberry, cinnamon, herbs, spice, olive and wild flower surrounded by earthy notes. The palate is medium bodied with firm tannic structure and drying tannins. Balanced flavours of blackberry, cinnamon, wild herbs, and cedar oak. Has mouth-watering acids and mocha notes on the very long finish. Decant 1-2 hours and serve now or drink up to 2022. Deserves to be paired with red meats. Excellent wine on par with Brunello and Barolo. Score: 91 pts

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