Jay Kline

9.6

Planted entirely to Sagrantino, “Cerrete” is a very special vineyard in Montefalco as it occupies the highest point in the DOC where it’s drier and cooler than Pagliaro. Typically, this is Bea’s most dense, most savage expression of Sagrantino di Montefalco. I can confirm that is the case for this wine.

Poured into a decanter about an hour before service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2010 pours a deep garnet color near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and, true to varietal form, overwhelmingly sanguine. Remarkable notes of demi-glacé, tart black cherry, and black plum, blood, the smell of a flower nursery’s greenhouse, and dry underbrush. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is impossibly long, iron rich and savory.

An absolutely brutal wine and positively stunning. This is awesome if you have the patience to allow it to open up however this will be better towards the end of this decade and drink well through 2045, easy. Bottle No. 0996/6111. — 7 days ago

Joe Santiago

9.4

Rich, velvety, smooth, fragrant, balanced...delicious! — a month 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. — 4 months ago

with Vicki, Tim and 2 others

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened and decanted about an hour prior to service. The 2016 San Valentino is a blend of mostly Sangiovese mixed with some local varieties. It pours a deep ruby purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the palate, the wine is developing with fascinating notes of ripe cherry, blackberry, exotic spices, wild underbrush, old leather and rich woody notes, some VA and dried rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ viscosity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and lovely and despite the concentration of flavors, surprisingly nimble and super versatile with the variety of fare on the table including sturgeon in a miso with noodles (it kinda blew my mind actually). Sublime. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 10 days ago

Spencer Fox

9.1

stylistically not for me but glad it was poured. lots of christmas spices, black fruit and prickly tannins. big, boisterous bastard but still, wore the 15% quite elegantly if i do say so myself. — a month ago

with Austin

Cathy Levy

9.2

Delicious! Drinking so well. — 4 months ago

Nick

8.9

In-laws brought this home from their trip to Sienna. Absolutely fantastic but the finish is short and not as earthy as I hoped. Still top tier. — 23 days ago

Mike Miller

9.7

2012 and I love this !!!!!!!!!! — a month ago

with Anne

Chris MacLean

9.1

Good find on a restaurant list for under $50 — 2 months ago

with Sarah

Steven Heydemann

9.1

Delicious, but 26 years later it will still strip the enamel off your teeth. — 4 months ago