1997 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 96.3 points

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  10/7/2017 - Magic man Likes this wine: 94 Points

  This wine was delicious and held up well after 20 years!

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  2/18/2017 - JEP007 wrote: 96 Points

  Really enjoyed this wine and I wouldn't be shocked if this could've held up for another 20 years. The previous 1997 which we had in June was more integrated and mellowed out than this bottle which had quite a bit of backbone to it still. If you have this vintage, I would recommend holding out for a while. If you love Sagrantino and CA, check out DaVero in Healdsburg. They are making a single vineyard Sagrantino which I think will one day be a benchmark for the new world with this varietal. Paolo Bea was their inspiration and the reason why I sourced these bottles.

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  11/7/2014 - kevinacohn wrote:

  Decanted an hour before serving. Unlike other tasters here, we found little sediment. What we did find was an outstanding, complex bottle of wine at its peak. Sweet red and black fruits (particularly prunes), incense, licorice, cinnamon, oregano, and some smoke and game on the nose. On the palate, sweet red fruits, earth, and fully resolved tannins. Layer upon layer of sensory intrigue. One of the best bottles of the year; my note doesn't do it justice. Bottle #3513. Rated 3 on a scale of -1 to 3.

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  2/8/2013 - hellowine Likes this wine: 96 Points

  I am a tough grader. I would rate this a 94, but ericindc said, "Is it emotionally thrilling? If so, you need to rate it at least a 96." True dat. I popped and poured it and it was very promising. There have been few wines I have poured early and said "This will be amazing in an hour." This held up to its promise. Emotionally thrilling, elegant and weighty. Delicious after at 45-60 mins of decanting. Disgusting amount of sediment, nothing a little fine sieving won't cure. Savory and herbal, fennel, oregano, not sweet. Very little tannin, deep dark color. (Think Homer's Odyssey and the 'wine dark sea'.) Deliciously fruity but complex with earthiness and flavor. Very nice tasty finish. Thank god we have 5 more to enjoy. Best wine in a very long time.

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  2/8/2013 - ericindc wrote: 97 Points

  Unbelievable, emotionally thrilling, elegant, masculine wine. Best wine I've had in 2 years. Needs 1 hour decant with large amounts of sediment.. Complex nose of sweet red and black fruit, herbs(fennell, oregano), and earth. The taste was phenomenal, sweet red and black fruits, earth, leather, spice, and stupendously long finish of sweet fruit and earth. Memorable!

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