Trip to Montefalco

Susan and I had a great trip through Umbria, the highlight of which was Montefalco. Among other activities, I needed to pick up three cases of wines at Rialto, my new favourite Sagrantino producer. The proprietors, Eraldo Dentici and his wife Chiara, are a lovely young couple; together with Eraldo's parents they prepared a very nice degustazione for us. We ate and drank very well during the trip, at restaurants and enotecas and at the agriturismo. Love Umbria!

• 2007 Casale Rialto Montefalco Sagrantino 94 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  (10/12/2008)

  Barrel tasting from the outstanding 2007 vintage. Deep purple. Persistent and intense on nose and palate. Big fruitiness imparting sensation of sweetness that will take on the new oak without compromise; big earthiness and minerality too. Lowish acidity, high level of beautiful/ripe tannins. Very long and complex. For release in 2010. To buy.

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• 2006 Casale Rialto Montefalco Sagrantino

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  (10/12/2008)

  Anteprima from bottle. Fairly ordinary vintage in Montefalco. Dense, purple. In a closed phase for aromatics and flavour. Powerful oak that will mellow; fruit in background. Higher acidity than the others. Difficult to judge its future, but it will likely not be as good as 2005 or 2007. Probably will skip all 2006's from Montefalco. For release in 2009.

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• 2007 Casale Rialto Montefalco Sagrantino Passito 90 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  (10/12/2008)

  Anteprima. Lovely wine. Black and dense. Alcohol at 16%; RS around 60 g/L, but lowish acidity made it seem sweeter. The oak (11 months in barrique) has tempered the wine and given it better balance.

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• 2005 Casale Rialto Montefalco Sagrantino Passito 92 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  (10/12/2008)

  Black and dense. Ample, sweet aromas; 60 g/L RS, but acidity is higher than the 2007; the oak has mellowed. Tannins, grape and oak, help balance the sweetness. Big and brawny, yet exquisite.

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• 2004 Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Sagrantino 88 Points

  Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Sagrantino

  (10/11/2008)

  Ruby, dense. Earth, wood, cherries, smoke on nose. High acidity, high level of firm tannins, high alcohol. Extremely concentrated, with good length and complexity. Very muscley and meaty.

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Didn't take comprehensive notes. The Rialto wines were tasted at the winery. We had the Scaccidiavoli at the restaurant, and we had two other Sagrantinos at an enoteca in the main piazza in Montefalco (with no notes and no recollection of the names).