2018 Paolo Bea San Valentino Rosso Umbria IGT, Umbrai, Italy

Tasting Notes:

This wine is sourced from the San Valentino vineyard in Montefalco the soil of which is dominated by clay. The vineyard is at 1300 feet altitude. The composition of the Montefalco Rosso is 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Montepulciano, all from a 50-year old vineyard containing the constituent grapes. Harvest usually occurs in the final ten days of October. Bea puts all the dry reds through extensive cuvaison. In this instance, the wine usually macerates for approximately 30 days before being racked and prepared for the malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 3 years in stainless steel and an additional 4 to 12 months in bottle before release.

The Domain:

Paolo Bea is a leading wine estate in Montefalco, Umbria, which started bottling wine in 1980, though the Bea family's recorded history in the area dates back to the 1500s. The estate is best known in most markets for its Sagrantino di Montefalco. However, it also produces a range of labels, including red and white Umbria IGT, the skin-contact Arboreus white wine, and a Montefalco Rosso.

The 15-hectare (37-acre) estate is overseen by Paolo Bea's sons Giampiero, who looks after the winery, and Giuseppe, who farms the estate. Only five hectares (12 acres) are given over to vineyard, with the remainder producing olives, fruit, vegetables, and wheat.

Paolo Bea is a founder of the non-interventionist Vini Veri organization, which stipulates that wines are made in a non-interventionist manner and that grapes are farmed organically, and vineyard biodiversity is encouraged. Despite being permitted by organic viticulture certification bodies, Bea refuses to use copper sulfate in the vineyards.