The wine is as good as the grapes. It’s not to say that the art of winemaking doesn’t matter. On the contrary, they are of paramount importance too. But it’s the flavour, taste, and strength of a particular grape variety that primarily determines the taste of a wine. It’s pretty much why people adore Italian wine; the country produces a wide range of grapes, with expert winemakers turning them into some heavenly drinks. Different grapes mean different tastes and everything else that comes with it.
Sagrantino Di Montefalco is one such variety that is currently enjoying massive popularity among the many different Italian wine labels. The label’s world fame began only a few decades ago, in the early Nineties, when Montefalco Sagrantino received its DOCG status. It was already pretty well known among the gourmet chefs before then; it was just that the upgraded status brought the region and its wines into public focus.
Anyways, coming to the public focus is one thing; keeping them satisfied and returning to taste the label is another. Considering how the popularity of the wine isn’t showing any signs of waning anytime soon, it’s perhaps time to dig deep into the matter. To find out what exactly is driving people to drink the red love of Sagrantino Di Montefalco and what makes the wine what it is. That way, you will also know whether it’s the wine for you or not. So, let’s read on.
The Taste of Sagrantino Di Montefalco
In general, a sip from a bottle of Sagrantino Di Montefalco will fill your mouth with an intense, robust flavour. It is like no other, something that is bolder, darker, and relatively intense. It tends to have a high alcohol concentration in and around 14 per cent. Thanks to the great Sagrantino grapes, the wine also gets many natural colours, sugar, tannins, and acid. The label also gets an infusion of blackberry, cherry, and mushroom notes. Combined with the earthy, dry tone of the Sagrantino grapes, it can leave a wild feeling on your tongue.
Therefore, a bottle of red love from Sagrantino Di Montefalco is no ordinary wine. It is unapologetically intense and requires certain respect from the drinker. It would be best if you didn’t rush into finishing a bottle; instead, take your time and have a pause in between the sips. It takes everyone a little while to tame Sagrantino grapes, you know.
A Modern Style of an Ancient Taste
In the age of throwaway consumerism and fast fashion, Sagrantino is a breath of fresh air. The grape doesn’t conform to the flow and takes its time to get tamed. But when it eventually tames, it results in a wine with unique characters. It sounds pretty old-fashioned, no?
That’s because the grape variety is an ancient one. It is so old that nobody is even sure about its origin. One idea suggests that the grapes originated in the Middle East. At the same time, some others point to something closer to home – Saracens and Piemonte. Some also suggest medieval Catalonia be the birthplace of these particularly aggressive, thick-skinned black grapes. But, unfortunately, even a DNA test couldn’t confirm the origin of the grapes.
Anyhow, the ancient grape comes with a high level of natural tannins. It is the most tannic grape in Italy and perhaps all around the world. Somewhat similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, Nebbiolo, and Tannat, the grape requires a time-consuming and elaborate taming process in the vineyards and wineries. Inevitably, there are some disagreements about the best way to age them – oak barrels vs small barrels, taming ingredients, etc. The mandatory ageing time stands at 30 months, including a year in the barrel.
For a bottle of Sagrantino Di Montefalco wine, it takes a whole 37 months to be marketable. An oak barrel is used for 12 months, with the rest of the time spent in small barrels. Then, it takes another five years of ageing to come round. So, the more time you keep it hidden in your cellar, the better you can expect it to taste – another ancient rule of winemaking is still applicable for this modern label. You can store the wine for up to 10 years without losing its taste or unbalancing its acidity in a perfect scenario.
The Foods to Savour with Sagrantino Di Montefalco
Sagrantino Di Montefalco is a wine for special occasions as a flavourful wine with a unique personality, taste, and aroma. The name Sagrantino supposedly came from Sagra, which means festival. Back in the sixteenth century, Sagrantino wine was championed by the monks and got heavily associated with religious festivities.
Fast forward a few years, the wine is now a part of many festivities around the world. Its rich textures and delicious taste makes it perfect for a bonfire in an autumn or spring evening. It is a primarily sweet blend that complements any substantial dishes in your kitchen – red meat, chicken, roasts, etc. The delicate hints of herbs and a smokey overlay also make it perfect to pair with steaks and other similar recipes. However, you should perhaps avoid drinking it on a hot summer evening; instead, save some mild variants or a bottle of Gin for that.
The Most Authentic Sagrantino Wine
As mentioned before, Sagrantino grapes were cultivated only in Umbria until recently. However, thanks to the recent popularity of the wines, the grapes now have found homes in Sicily, Australia, California, and Argentina. Hence, you may need to do some work in finding the most authentic Sagrantino wines.
As Sagrantino Di Montefalco is one of the reasons behind the popularity of Sagrantino wines, there can be no question about its authenticity. The wine is produced from the best Sagrantino grapes in its original home by the vineyards taming the grapes for centuries. So, if you want to taste Sagrantino di Montefalco, take a look at enotecaproperzio.com. Trust us! You won’t regret the decision or the wine.
