Sagrantino Montefalco Tasting
Montefalco Sagrantino Tasting in the Palazzo Comunale
Sitting in the Palazzo Comunale on Montefalco’s main square, I tasted a broad cross‑section of Montefalco Sagrantino, comparing producers, vintages and styles in the town that made this grape famous.
The setting is the medieval town hall, built in the late 13th century when Montefalco was a self‑governing commune, later extended with a Renaissance loggia and bell tower as the town came under papal rule and developed into today’s compact hilltop center. The piazza outside, Piazza del Comune, is the historic hub where all streets converge, surrounded by churches and noble palaces; from here, vineyards fall away on all sides, forming the DOCG zone that supplies the wines in my glass.
My tasting focused on two vintages – 2021 and 2020 – offering a snapshot of Sagrantino’s power, tannin and the range of interpretations from small family producers to large, region‑defining estates.
2021: Young Power and Producer Signatures
Arnaldo Caprai – 25 Anni 2021 and Collepiano 2021
25 Anni is Caprai’s flagship: very dark, concentrated and structured, with dense black fruit, cocoa, spice and formidable but polished tannins aimed clearly at long aging. Collepiano, also powerful and deeply colored, shows a more open, generous dark‑fruit profile and slightly more accessible tannins, feeling like the “gateway” Caprai Sagrantino: serious and age‑worthy, but friendlier in youth.
Moretti Omero – Montefalco Sagrantino 2021 and Vignalunga 2021
The basic Montefalco Sagrantino 2021 shows dark berries, plum and a touch of herbs, with firm but not rustic tannins and good freshness. The single‑vineyard Vignalunga 2021 is denser and more focused: inky color, concentrated dark fruit, spice and floral notes, with a more powerful, compact structure that clearly marks it as the estate’s statement wine.
Scacciadiavoli 2021
Scacciadiavoli 2021 comes across as ripe and brooding, with black cherry, blackberry, licorice and a hint of tar. On the palate it is full and generous but anchored by firm, rising tannins and a savory, slightly bitter finish that makes it feel serious and very food‑oriented.
Tenuta Lunelli “Carapace” 2021
Carapace 2021 combines richness with polish. It shows dark berry fruit with subtle herbal and earthy notes, but stands out for its texture: full‑bodied yet suave, with fine‑grained tannins and a long, clean finish. It feels carefully engineered for power without harsh edges.
Terre di San Felice 2021
This wine presents bright red and dark berry fruit with a slightly rustic, savory edge. It is full‑bodied, with classic Sagrantino grip and a long, dry finish, but the style is straightforward and honest rather than glossy, giving a clear, “local” expression of the grape.
Arnaldo Caprai 2022 (base Sagrantino)
The basic Caprai Sagrantino 2022 shows the house’s modern style in a slightly lighter key than the two 2021 crus: dark berry fruit, spice and a hint of cocoa, with firm but refined tannins and a long, balanced finish. It reads as a well‑made, benchmark baseline for the appellation.
Bocale 2021
Bocale 2021 is dark and aromatic, with black berries, dried herbs and a touch of earth. On the palate it feels powerful but less polished than the larger houses; the tannins are firm and grippy, with a natural texture that emphasizes character over sheen.
Colle Ciocco leans into a more traditional style: deep color, dark fruits, spice, and a hint of forest floor. The structure is serious, with firm, somewhat old‑school tannins and good acidity, clearly made to reward time in bottle.
La Veneranda 2021
La Veneranda 2021 offers vivid berry fruit, gentle spice and floral notes on the nose. In the mouth it is full, with the expected tannic backbone, but it comes across as warm and approachable, wrapping the structure in generous, friendly fruit.
Lungarotti 2021
Lungarotti’s Sagrantino shows deep color and layered aromas of red and black fruit, spice, tobacco and chocolate.
The palate is dense and powerful, with rich but harmonious tannins and a long, persistent finish, reflecting the scale and experience of a major Umbrian estate.
2020: A Five‑Star, More Elegant Vintage
The final flight shifted to 2020, a vintage widely described as high‑quality, with ripe fruit and better‑managed tannins, giving slightly more approachable Sagrantinos without losing structure.
Montioni 2020
Montioni 2020 is dark and ripe, with walnut, prune, molasses and dark chocolate on the nose, almost port‑like in richness. The palate is full and enveloping, with sweet‑toned fruit, evident but polished oak and surprisingly accessible tannins for Sagrantino.
Romanelli 2020 “Terra Cupa”
Terra Cupa 2020 is more vertical and serious: blackberry and plum with violets, cocoa and earth. It is dense and firmly structured, with mouth‑coating tannins and a savory, slightly bitter finish, built more for hearty food and aging than immediate comfort.
Tenuta Alzatura 2020
Tenuta Alzatura’s 2020 combines muscularity with control. Aromas of plum, cherry, toasted spice, coffee and cured meat lead into a massive but well‑balanced palate: rich black fruit, roasted notes and significant, dusty tannins supported by good acidity.
Terre de la Custodia 2020 “Maior”
Maior 2020 is a bold, savory Sagrantino, typically showing dark cherry and plum with coffee, vanilla and dried‑fruit notes. The palate is full‑bodied and structured, with firm tannins and enough freshness to keep the dark flavors from feeling heavy.
Tudernum 2020
The Tudernum 2020 offers ripe wild berries, blackberries and cherries, wrapped in coffee and chocolate tones. It is full‑bodied and robust, but the cooperative’s modern style gives it a relatively accessible, fruit‑driven feel over a firm tannic spine.
Valdangius 2020 “Fortunato”
Fortunato 2020 is positioned as Valdangius’s emblematic wine: ruby‑red, with ripe plums and blackberries on the nose and a rich, complex palate. It is full‑bodied yet notably elegant for Sagrantino, with good tannin that feels integrated rather than aggressive, promising both current enjoyment and aging potential.
