Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, bay leaves and baking spices. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and a chalky texture. Flavorful, savory finish.

It's a herbal, lemon-scented white with streaks of lime, gooseberry and tropical fruit. In the mouth it's intense with good acidity and spiky citrus flavours on the attack, tempered by a round, creamy palate. Minerally and herbal, it has mid-palate notes of gooseberry, peppery spice and yellow fruits leading to a long, fresh finish. Ideal with grilled seafood.

Apple-blossom, pear, pomelo, fennel-seed and wild-herb aromas. It’s medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Earthy and minerally undertones.

Red and black autumnal fruits, damp earth and peppery spice aromas lead to a ripe palate with fresh, fine-grained tannins and a minty edge. There's a glorious sweetness running through the bright red and black fruits, accompanied on the mid-palate by earth, tobacco and wood.

This displays much more wood influence. Strawberry and hedgerow berry aromas are joined by tobacco and wood notes, while the palate is juicy, intense yet fresh, with plump red and black berries and a herbal character on the mid-palate leading to a chocolatey finish. It's all nicely balanced by fresh, zingy acidity and ripe, chewy tannins.

Aromas of cassis, dark plums, incense and roasted nuts. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Firm and dense with a chalky texture. Slightly dry finish.

Fresh pears, apples, lemon blossom and stones on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Bright, mineral finish.

This bottle is a true ambassador for Umbria. You get ample varietal tones in the 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anni, with bitter chocolate and baking spice, but Caprai does a terrific job of softening up and fleshing out the Sagrantino grape to display a more contemporary and ultimately more approachable and versatile wine. It boasts a huge, bold and opulent mouthfeel with plenty of structure and determination.

Wow. The incredible packaging here (with a gold thread around the bottle and a white wax capsule to close) gives you a sense of the importance of this beautiful Sagrantino. I tasted bottle number 567 of only 1,133 made. The 2010 Montefalco Sagrantino Spinning Beauty is very nicely balanced, showing so much care and focus. Dark fruit, leather, tar and baking spice make up the bouquet, while the tannins are softly integrated—and that's the key takeaway here. You get lots of big bold power on the close. You really need a serious steak dinner for this wine.

With a dark, full-bodied color and ripe aromas of blackberry preserves and dark marmalade, the 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano packs a powerful punch at 15.5% alcohol. There are dustings of baking spice or bitter chocolate. Here is a full, big-bodied and brooding Sargrantino.

Here I’m finding ripe black cherries laced with peppery herbs, as notes of sweet white smoke and purple flowers evolve in the glass. On the palate, silky textures coast across a core of juicy acids, delivering ripe red and blue fruits, and hints of fine tannin slowly collect upon the senses. The finish is long and youthfully structured, resonating on a mix of wild berries and sweet spice. The 2018 Montefalco Rosso from Arnaldo Caprai is cool-toned and really quite pretty, while keeping its fruit front and center. Very nice.

Delicate pine and marjoram aromatics lace flavors of plumped black cherry and wile strawberry fruit in this dense, full-bodied red. Tightly meshed, with accents of graphite, licorice and ground pink peppercorn. Give this time to unfurl.

Dried cherries, roasted herbs, dried red plums, tobacco and vanilla. Full-bodied and plush but reserved and elegant. Drink from 2021.

Here’s a very floral and “postmodern” Montefalco that shows dried violets, lavender, bay leaf, pine cones and some dried meat. It’s still warm and hearty on the full-bodied palate, but bolstered by carefully wrought tannins and direct acidity. Drink from 2021.

Hints of herbed olive and loamy earth underscore the baked black cherry and pomegranate fruit in this tightly knit, medium- to full-bodied red, with firm, dusty tannins. Best from 2021 through 2026. 2,500 cases made, 450 cases imported.

The 2016 Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco Rosso Riserva blends 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Merlot to create a powerful but deeply alluring expression, showing crushed blackberry and cherry offset by spiced orange, with sweet and savory herbs, crushed stone and hints of animal musk. On the palate, soft textures envelop the senses, contrasted by tart red fruits, grippy minerality and fine tannins, yet for all of the youthful tension, there’s a cooling, subtle sweetness here that provides balance. The finish is long and structured, resonating on sweet herbs, with hints of mocha and tobacco...

Built on a huge scale, this maturing sagrantino has a lot of ripe blackberry, roasted meat and balsamic aromas. The tannins on the palate are pretty massive, but they are beginning to integrate nicely and that process should continue for some years. Drink or hold."

Although this is ripe and decadent, it’s also very polished and inviting. Dried plums, tar, menthol, licorice and caramelized oranges and cedar are all in play. The tannins are enormous, but they’re covered in dark-chocolate notes and enhanced by vibrant dark fruit. Full-bodied and long on the luxurious finish. Drink from 2026.

A rich and flavorful red with ripe fruit, as well as meat and wood undertones. Medium to full body. Polished and chewy tannins. Slightly austere. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”

This is a plush, ripe red with dried plums and notes of tar and ash, as well as a touch of menthol. Full-bodied and ripe, but structured and dialed-in. Decadent on the finish. With a tad less alcohol, this would score even more highly. Drink from 2023.