2015 Colpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino Passito: the review of a sweet and velvety red wine
The 2015 Colpetrone Montefalco Sagrantino Passito is a sweet and enveloping red wine, very velvety but, at the same time, with powerful tannins that manage to balance all this sweetness making the wine always dynamic and exciting.
The problem with many sweet wines is that they are too smooth, with a heavy aroma that is pleasant for the first 20 seconds but then gets too sweet and makes you want to put the glass down without feeling bad.
This Sagrantino di Montefalco passito has the great advantage of being not very sweet for the category. It’s rocky, almost a tannin squeeze: you’ll find a slew of delicious flavors that will transport you to the hills of Montefalco in the middle of autumn.
How is it done?
As per tradition, the grapes are harvested when fully ripe and then left to dry on the racks so that the water evaporates and the sugars can concentrate to the nth degree. After a couple of months, the bunches, which have lost 40% of their weight, are pressed, and the must ferments and macerates on the skins for a couple of weeks; then, it ages in large oak barrels for 6 months on the fine lees.
Organoleptic characteristics
The bouquet is dense, austere, and full of ripe fruit, rhubarb and strawberry cakes, sweet spices, chocolate, coffee, and vanilla: you can find everything here.
It is a fantastic explosion, it will tickle your nose, and after letting it open for a couple of hours, the grip of the wood loosens, and splendid floral and alpine herb notes emerge. The earthy aromas are lavish and add nobility and depth to an already precious aromatic profile.
On the palate, it is mildly sweet but with measure. Tannins and acidity keep these decadent flavors of plums in alcohol at bay, correcting with whips of cinchona and licorice.
Overall, it’s super concentrated and dense, full-bodied, but has a good kick and never feels mushy or bumpy. Fantastic finish with returns of balsamic vinegar, cooked must, and candied oranges.
Price
The 0.375-liter bottle costs 25-27 euros. It costs a lot, it is true, but it is a rare and precious sweet wine, the processing of which involves considerable effort both in terms of work and economics, so the price is justified.
Food Pairings
Excellent when paired with very aged or blue cheeses and dark chocolate, chocolate salami, pear and chocolate tart, blueberry cheesecake, chocolate truffles, apple tart. If you are brave, try the classic Umbrian pairing and serve it with roasted lamb: extreme but exciting. The sweetish and particular taste of the lamb lends itself to the embrace of this soft and powerful wine.