2019 Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino “Pagliaro”, Umbria, Italy

ABOUT THIS WINE

The “Pagliaro” is Bea’s flagship Montefalco Sagrantino, produced from a single vineyard located at approximately 1,300 feet above sea level. The site is rich in clay-limestone soils and is farmed using organic and biodynamic practices. The 100% Sagrantino grapes are hand-harvested, de-stemmed, and undergo a lengthy maceration of 40–50 days, followed by several years of aging in neutral Slavonian oak botti and further refinement in bottle. No fining, no filtration, and no additions—not even sulfur—are used.

The 2019 vintage expresses the grape’s formidable tannic structure with uncommon grace. Notes of blackberry reduction, prune, iron, and espresso mingle with sage, fennel seed, tobacco, and crushed violets. On the palate, it’s powerful and broad, with an unmistakable sense of Umbria’s sun and soil. Dense but not heavy, the wine’s natural acidity keeps it balanced, while time will tame the wine’s formidable youth. Pair with osso buco, slow-cooked beef, game, truffle risotto, or hard-aged pecorino.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Paolo Bea is one of Italy’s most revered natural winemakers, widely considered the soul of Montefalco. The family has farmed the land since the 1500s, but it was Paolo who elevated the estate's profile with his deeply traditional, non-interventionist approach. Today, his son Giampiero Bea oversees the operation, continuing Paolo’s legacy with the same dedication to nature and time.

Every wine is made without shortcuts: the grapes are grown organically with meticulous attention to biodiversity, harvested by hand, and fermented spontaneously. Wines spend years in the cellar before release, and each bottling reflects not just a varietal or vintage, but a vision—of wine as a living, breathing expression of the land. “Pagliaro” is both a testament to Sagrantino’s immense potential and to the Bea family’s enduring commitment to purity, patience, and place.