Montefalco Sagrantino
#docg #red #dry #passito #umbria #sagrantino
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG is an important designation that was born in the heart of Italy, in the areas around the town of Montefalco, in Umbria, whose production is based exclusively on Sagrantino grapes. It is produced in two typologies, secco (dry) and passito, which enhance very well the characteristic and strong tannins of the vine, allowing to obtain wines with a long aging, which can last even 20 years.
The name has a double root, on one side the place where it is produced - Montefalco - on the other the vine used - Sagrantino. It is believed that this one derives from the Latin word “sacer”, i.e. “sacred”, to indicate its value: in fact, from some documents and accounts of the XVI century, it is believed that it was drunk in its passito form mainly in festive moments, initially religious, then civil. The dry version appears instead only in the twentieth century, as part of a regional exhibition of wines and oils, but will have to spend several years before finding it on the market.
Its grapes are grown in a strictly hilly area and are between 220 and 470 m above sea level. The soil is composed of fluvio-lacustrine deposits, silty-clayey with little skeleton and rich in limestone. Before being put on the market, it matures for 33 months in the cellar, of which at least 12 months in wooden containers.
Profile
To describe effectively the dry typology of Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG we could compared it to a noble knight, strong, muscular and with deep dark eyes. If tasted hastily - and certainly with a wrong temperature - it could be sharp, even unpleasant; but with the right atmosphere it can be intriguing, certainly pleasantly warm and very persistent. The color is very intense ruby red, very dark, which only after years of aging turns towards more garnet hues. To the nose emerge spicy notes that can bewitch, such as aromatic herbs, cinnamon, anise, tobacco. In the mouth it is tannic, tannic, tannic, but also warm, broad and definitely ... explosive.
Food pairing
Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG, in the dry version, is a very special red wine, rich in tannins that give a great structure and longevity. For this reason it should be consumed only after an adequate period of aging, in order to "smooth" the remarkable astringency. It pairs well with savory dishes, such as grilled meats or game.
The passito typology is an excellent meditation wine, but gourmands can try it, not without some satisfaction, with dark chocolate (less than 85%), with creamy and aged cheeses.
Tips
Protocol
Production zone
- region: Umbria
- province: Perugia
- municipalities: Montefalco, Bevagna, Gualdo Cattaneo, Castel Ritaldi, Giano
Typologies
- Montefalco Sagrantino
- Montefalco Sagrantino Passito
Grapes varieties
- Sagrantino 100%
Maximum productivity
- grapes quintals / hectare: 80
- wine hectoliters / quintal: 0,65
- wine hectoliters / hectare: 52
Passito maximum productivity
- quintals of grapes per hectare: 80
- hectoliters of wine per quintal: 0,32
- hectoliters of wine per hectare: 28
Minimum alcohol
- Montefalco Sagrantino: 13,0%
- Montefalco Sagrantino with mention of Vigna: 13,5%
Service
- temperature: 18°C / 64°F
- glass: wide wine glass
- longevity: 10-20 years
Passito service
- Passito temperature: 16°C / 61°F
- Passito glass: small wine glass
- Passito longevity: 10-20 years
Happy wine!
