On the Road with the Grape Guy

On the Road with the Grape Guy is a on-going feature that follows me from event to event ... I post my thoughts, feelings and reviews of what happened and what I tasted ... basically it is here that I review the events I attend and the things that thrilled me.

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG – Annata 2020

18 Mar 2025

Montefalco Annata 3

Montefalco Annata 2a(June 2024) ... Yes ... I know this is a tannin rich wine. Yes ... I know it grips and it is a wine you grapple with when young. But the fruit must still be present - and that's what I am looking for. Something that’s not awash in wood, and will be nothing but Chateau-Two-by-Four in 10 years. Something to look forward to opening: now and in the future.

Plenty of wine made this list, 13 in total of the 25 tasted; over half of which made the “Better” category. Sagrantino has come a long way – no longer just a “tannic wine” for long ageing. Winemakers are learning their way around their wood programs, using less new and less small barrels – thus toning down wood’s influence and taming those tannins in the process. It won’t be long before you’ll be opening a 5-year-old Sagrantino for dinner; and you won’t be committing infanticide.

 

Arnaldo Caprai 2020 25 Anni - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better+
Montefalco Annata 4aGoretti 2020 Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better+
Tabarrini 2020 Il Bisbetico Domato - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better+
Tenute Lunelli / Tenuta Castelbuono 2020 Carapace - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better+

 

Antonelli 2020 Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better
Briziarelli 2020 Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better Montefalco Annata 5a
Romanelli 2020 Terra Cupa - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Better

 

Arnaldo Caprai 2020 Collepiano - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Good+
Montioni 2020 Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Good+
Tabarrini 2020 Colle alle Macchie - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Good+
Montefalco Annata 6aTenute Baldo 2020 Preda del Falco - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Good+

 

Le Thadee 2020 Carlo Re    - Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Good
Terre de' Trinci 2020 Montefalco Sagrantino DOC - Good

 

Montefalco Sagrantino Vintage Wines

16 Mar 2025

 

Montefalco Vintage 2(June 2024) ... It is always a mixed bag in this tasting – what I have learned is that wine is really about two things: the vintage and the winemaker: good wines can be made by good winemakers despite the year.

In a good vintage, a good winemaker knows to stay out of the way, allow the fruit to express itself and only intervene when necessary.

In a troublesome vintage, a good winemaker knows it’s his job to shepherd these wines through the trouble spots and with each vintage learns how to handle things now and also for the future.

Bottom Line: Good wines can be made by good winemakers despite the year. And there are plenty of both making up this list.

 Montefalco Vintage 3

Montefalco Vintage 4aAntonelli 2019 Molino dell’Attone - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Arnaldo Caprai 2020 Collepiano - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Benedetti & Grigi 2018 Dioniso - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Bocale 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Colle Ciocco 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Di Filippo 2019 Etnico - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
La Veneranda 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Moretti Omero 2017 Vignalunga - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better

Tabarrini 2018 Colle Grimaldesco - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better Montefalco Vintage 5a
Tenuta Bellafonte 2017 Collenottolo - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better
Tenute Lunelli / Tenuta Castelbuono 2019 Carapace - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Better

 

Agricola Mevante 2018 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Antonelli 2019 Chiusa di Pannone - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Arnaldo Caprai 2020 Collepiano - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Colpetrone 2018 O’ di Colpetrone - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Montefalco Vintage 6a

Fattoria Colsanto 2015 Montarone - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Fongoli 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
La Fonte 2018 Collepoppo - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Le Thadee 2018 Carlo Re - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Moretti Omero 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Romanelli 2019 Medeo - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Tabarrini 2018 Colle alle Macchie - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+

Tenuta di Saragano 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Montefalco Vintage 7a
Tenute Lunelli / Tenuta Castelbuono 2017 Carapace Lunga Attesa - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Terre de la Custodia 2017 Exubera - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Terre di San Felice 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+
Valdangus 2018 Fortunato - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good+

 

Antonelli 2018 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Arnaldo Caprai 2020 25 Anni - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Briziarelli 2018 Vitruvio - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Montefalco Vintage 8a

Cocco Ilaria 2017 Phonsano - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Cocco Ilaria 2018 Phonsano - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Di Filippo 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Le Cimate 2015 Donna Giulia - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Le Cimate 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Montioni 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Romanelli 2019 Terra Cupa - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Tabarrini 2018 Campo alla Cerqua - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good

Tenuta Alzatura 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good
Montefalco Vintage 9a
Terre di San Felice 2019 Vinum dei - Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG - Good

 

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