2006 Montefalco Sagrantino 25 Anniversay

The 2006 Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni completely saturates the palate with masses of dark fruit. Many of the dark, balsamic notes that are present in the Collepiano are found in the 25 Anni as well, but here the wine’s expansive, glorious fruit takes on another dimension of sheer richness and opulence. The Sagrantino tannins are present, but they are nearly buried under the wine’s intense fruit. Nearly. The big, massive finish suggests the wine is an infant, so patience is required. A blast of smoke, earthiness, tar and game adds the final exclamation point. This is a spectacular, head-spinning 25 Anni from Marco Caprai. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Marco Caprai has long led the way in Montefalco. These 2006s are Caprai’s best wines yet and capture all of the promise they showed when I tasted them from barrel a year ago. Simply put, readers will not want to miss these fabulous wines. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700

Caprai's top wine, the Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni, was first released in 1993 to commemorate the estate's 25th anniversary. It has since gone on to become one of Italy's most recognized wines. The 25 Anni starts as a vineyard selection of the finest fruit at harvest, followed by a second selection in the cellar. Essentially the 25 Anni represents the finest barrels of Sagrantino the estate has produced in a given year. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in French oak and sees approximately 50-60% new barrels, depending on the vintage. The 2006 Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni is a big, brooding wine that needs time to come together. Today the tannins are imposing, yet there seems to be quite a bit of potential in the glass. This will be a fascinating 25 Anni to follow over the coming years.

The 2006 Sagrantino di Montefalco 25 Anni completely saturates the palate with masses of dark fruit. Many of the dark, balsamic notes that are present in the Collepiano are found in the 25 Anni as well, but here the wine’s expansive, glorious fruit takes on another dimension of sheer richness and opulence. The Sagrantino tannins are present, but they are nearly buried under the wine’s intense fruit. Nearly. The big, massive finish suggests the wine is an infant, so patience is required. A blast of smoke, earthiness, tar and game adds the final exclamation point. This is a spectacular, head-spinning 25 Anni from Marco Caprai. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. Jun 2010, www.robertparker.com