4,000 bottle production. We thought Pagliaro could not achieve more depth and complexity and then in 2007, the Bea's began to bottle the highest altitude vineyard in the zone. This is Pagliaro in 4K definition.
AOC'S GUIDE TO PAOLO BEA: The Pope of Sagrantino, an Italian National Treasure
These are simply some of Italys most thrilling wines and have been for years. They are the true double threat in terms of allocations as they receive tremendous love and adoration from the collector, sommelier, and natural wine communities. They were natural wine before natural wine was even a thing. Despite their low sulfur additions, no new oak, and traditional winemaking, these powerful, tannic, behemoths crafted from the classic varieties of the Central Italian waistline are generously ripe and fleshy at 15.0% ABV. These wines are so big they would make any Napa wine but Harlan Estate pink in the cheeks. From one of the US's greatest importers, Rosenthal Wines, "Beas wines remain singularboisterous, unabashedly wild expressions of their undulating, sun-drenched hills of origin, each new vintage of which is eagerly anticipated by a legion of loyal clients." Their opulence and grippy tannic structure is balanced by a space opera of exotic spices, herbs and aromatics tantrically woven into a velvet fabric. If you're both a lover of funk and an Italian wine lover and have not discovered these yet, welcome to your next dream wine. - BK
95 Points from Eric Guido of Vinous: "The 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Cerrete wafts up with a smoky burst of camphor that blows off to reveal a pretty mix of wild strawberries, dried roses, cinnamon and peppery herbs. This is silky yet cool-toned in feel, with a pleasant twang of sour citrus up front that gives way to vivid tart cherries. It's potent and staining, but also full of energy, with vibrant acids and a mineral underpinning that both pepper yet also soothe the senses. The 2015 finishes incredibly long, with balsamic tones and exotic spices that seem to last for up to a minute. Silky tannins coat the palate at first then slowly melt away and create a sense of total inner harmony. With a few years of cellaring, I expect the 2015 Cerrete to be a total knockout. Of note, there will not be a 2013 or 2014 Cerrete."