Drinking Window 2026 - 2038
Exotic from the first tilt of the glass, the 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino Pagliaro is youthfully intense, with a blend of rum-soaked cherries and a cascade of sweet spice, mixing dried violets with cloves, ashen stones and blood orange. This is elegant and refined, with silken textures and admirable weight, all supported by fresh acidity, as masses of ripe blueberry blend with sage and a salty tinge of minerality. A balsamic twang saturates the palate as the 2019 finishes staining and long with a saturation of primary concentration and a pleasantly bitter tinge that lingers over a bed of fine-grained tannins. Just a baby today, the 2019 is geared for the cellar. This is a spellbinding vintage of Pagliaro. - By Eric Guido on August 2024

Unfortunately, 2024 has been a very difficult year for the Bea family, with the passing of Paolo Bea in January, followed by his son Giuseppe just a few months later. Umbria and the wine world have lost two emblems. Despite the tragedy, the estate remains an icon of the region, with a portfolio exceeding expectations yearly. While Giampiero Bea, Paolo’s other son, has been the international face and soul of the winery who will continue to carry the torch, Giuseppe was the man behind the scenes in the vineyards and winery. This year's visit focused on the 2019s, a year that started with a lot of humidity followed by an extremely warm summer. However, Bea believes that the harvest was extremely healthy, requiring longer fermentations to compensate for the ripe fruit. The 2019s are a welcome return to Bea’s expectations, following the arid and hot 2017 and wet and cooler 2018 vintages. These wines are powerful yet balanced, soulful and elegant in the Bea style. I especially love the Arboreus, a varietal Trebbiano Spoletino from vines interplanted with fruit trees. Often overlooked by consumers, this wine is ideal for meditation and matures remarkably well. The entry-level, high-energy Rosso San Valentino, 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Montepulciano, is also worth seeking out. The 2019 is one of the most exciting vintages of the San Valentino to date, performing now at an elevated level. Notwithstanding increased prices in recent years, this is still a great value for a Paolo Bea experience. Sadly, the winery suffered huge losses in 2023 due to peronospora in the spring, which may impact the production of the vintage. - By Eric Guido on August 2024