Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.4

Holy cow. Just brilliant. Nice plumminess to it along with balanced tannins and acidity. Dark red fruit. Complex as day is long. 2008 — 13 days ago

Matt Ragan

9.5

Outrageous — 2 months ago

with Shelley

Jay Kline

9.3

Poured into a Boa decanter about 30min prior to service. The 2016 “Santa Chiara pours a brilliant, deep and slightly hazy copper gold color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with desiccated apricots, dried apples, yellow flowers, and curaçao. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium- tannins. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and super amazing. This is such a wonderful bottle of Bea. When his whites hit, well…they really hit. Drink now with a short decant or over the next 3-5 years. Bottle 1641/6133 — 4 months ago

Jason Sliwa

9.6

Gotta wait for it, but Sagrantino from Paolo Bea can be great. Best sagrantino I’ve had. Magnum. So happy to be able to share it with appreciators. — 25 days ago

with Vicki, Tim and 2 others

Jay Kline

9.3

If the late Paolo Bea ever made a Brunello, it might resemble something like this. The 2008 Colleone BdM pours a deep garnet; slightly browning with some rim variation. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. Some light signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mostly desiccated fruit profile: cherries, dried red flowers, tomatoes, balsamic, leather, and spices. Definitely some VA; “it must be Italian!” On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. The notes from the nose are confirmed. The finish is long and layered. I want more time with wine; it’s a story teller. This 2008, compared to the 2006 La Torre from the other night, just has a bit more structure to it and having enough experience with both vintages, that tracks. Drink now and through 2028. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured, enjoyed over three days. Consistent throughout. The 2019 is Giampiero’s first vintage of “Cotidie” which is an interesting blend of Sagrantino and Trebbiano. The wine pours a bright, garnet color with a slightly watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is expressive of bright funky cherries, strawberry, watermelon, and some barnyard. The fruit profile is extremely fresh! On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with juuuuuust a touch of the mouse showing. The finish is medium+ with a pleasant streak of minerals. This is a lighter, more versatile Bea red and yet, there is tremendous depth and maintains the soulfulness one expects from Bea. Just lovely. Drinking very well now however, it should remain in great shape through 2030. Bottle 0934/1647 — 5 months ago

Eliot Hamerman

9.3

Dark berries, dry finish on palate, big and hints of leather and tobacco — a month ago

Ming L

9.3

Like the Pipparello, this is a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano. Unlike the Pipparello, this one sees no oak.
The savory nose is full of cherries, earth, and herbal spices. Very deep and complex. On the palate the acidity is noticeably higher. Intense and brooding. Powerful dusty tannins.
A wine making tour de force. — 2 months ago

Mario Zillner

9.6

Plum Market find (West Bloomfield, MI); delicious …I much prefer it to the Pipparello Riserva — 4 months ago

Brian Hearty

9.5

2007. I love Bea very much, so much so I drank both my cellars out of it. Been wanting to try this passito forever and tonight was the time. Awesome dessert wine with great balance of sweet, funk, and acid. — 5 months ago