1999 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco

Community Tasting Notes (39) Avg Score: 91.6 points

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  8/18/2023 - LotionInTheBasket Likes this wine:

  Was inspired to open this due to a recent Sagrantino post on WB. Recent CT TNs suspect EOL, holdings (somewhat) suggest this may not be the case. Let's take the Pepsi Challenge... Opened and let bottle decant for about an hour+ to start. It starts scary, nose of heavy figs and overdone. Gave it more time, why not?! That blows off actually. Do not be lazy like me and use the bottle; decant in a wide base vessel as the glass I poured in and left alone evolved amazingly to real fruit emerging with tart (VA on after-thought) black cherries, leather, earthiness, hints of black tea. Moving on... the front is so different than what I expected. Not tart at all as this maybe the most well integrated end-to-end sip I've had in a decade, maybe more. Mature dark cherry and plums dancing with dusty/musty earthy forest floor, kissed w/vanilla and cocoa dust, and an all spice/nutmeg kinda splash. Middle gives way to a kick of acidity and some tart, faded; it tried. The back is a whole thing. All the front coming back to the party on a velvet carpet of tannins and earthiness fading to black tea and blackberry, late to the party. I've not seen something like this ever and it was a complete surprise and fortunate at that. Be patient with this yet also don't be shocked at how fast it can shift lanes on fruit, earth, tertiary nuances. The middle acidity throttles a bit up and down over time based on what's happening around it. Some of this is the sediment that is creeping in more on the later glasses, some not. All in all, wow, I don't put numbers on wine but this would be material. Was a "gift" in a way. I gave a friend a well kept '43 German Riesling for his Dad's BD; he insisted I take this. Good karma comes around. Right now, I just hope he and his Dad felt as much joy as I just did. Edit: Mine is No. 1322

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  2/12/2023 - vagrantone wrote: 86 Points

  Frankly disappointing!
  It tasted tired, unbalanced and disjointed...
  slightly excessive alcohol, not much of the structure expected and just short on interest and complexity.
  Certainly not worth the price...

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  3/18/2021 - Nanda wrote: 87 Points

  Double blind. Mature aromas that are very madeira like with dried spice box and nuttiness. Good richness of sweet fruit that is now full dry. Interesting as a curiosity but not particularly enjoyable.

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  3/18/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote:

  Double Blind Virtual tasting (Chicagoland IL): An eccentric wine that I can easily understand both loving and hating. Old school character throughout with very mature red cherry with a tart, vinegary character that is bright but ultra tart. Meaty and earthy and very complex, but lacking brightness that many of us want in a great wine.

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  8/26/2020 - Louvin Likes this wine: 95 Points

  I've had this wine a number of times over the years, but this is surely the best. I had been a bit worried about an overabundance of fig flavor, but this opened after a short decant as a large and vibrant bottle of exquisite red fruited wine, some element of darker fig like flavors but just the combination perfect balance of structural elements make this a great wine. By far the most sediment I've ever seen in a wine but not surprised. Not tired in any way. Drink now and enjoy.

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