2006 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Pagliaro
Community Tasting Note
ex-sommelier Likes this wine:
Saturday, November 8, 2014 - Opened at cellar temp, poured down to the shoulder and sampled a couple times over 6 hours. Volatile on opening, but harmonized after a couple hours, and was beautiful with a charred bistecca, collards, and white beans.
Deep purple core with ruby reflection. Lighter than expected, not quite inky.
The nose is intensely balsamic, with aromas of hedgerow, bay laurel, dark stewed fruit and dried berries. As it opened more delicate herbal and graphite notes emerged.
With air, the tannins softened their grip but maintained a powerful structure. With the steak it took on some qualities of a fine bordeaux with graphite and cedarwood and left me breathless.
I am unsure if I detected the Brett elements that previous reviewers had, and did not care, or if their bottles were flawed. I detected a savory barnyard quality but the wine was balanced and well-tuned.
Given how many different facets emerged from this bottle over time, I would say another 3 years would be great, but if you give this wine some time and air it will be great today. Exceptional personality and complexity.
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3 comments have been posted
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue (3,108 views)
Comment posted by ericindc:
11/8/2014 9:19:00 PM - These wines need a long,long time. I tend to recommend 10 minimum. I won't open any before 15 years.
Comment posted by kevinacohn:
11/9/2014 7:37:00 AM - Eric, I would normally agree with you (regarding the Pagliaro), but I'm finding the 2006 vintage to be quite accessible early on.
Comment posted by ex-sommelier:
11/9/2014 6:45:00 PM - Agreed for the 07's for sure, not touching those or the Cerrete for a while.
This 06 lost any hint of funk on day two and became much riper, with increased bitter chocolate and tobacco notes, full fruity mid-palate, and super velvety tannin.