Description
We are always excited to get our hands on any and all bottles of Paolo Bea wines as we can. These hand crafted specimens are true works of art and are highly guarded by anyone lucky enough to procure them. This Riserva bottling from the Pipparello Vineyard, which sits on a hilltop in Montefalco at 1,300 feet above sea level, is probably the most coveted and special in the line up. The vines are planted to the main red varietals of Umbria, including Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano and have an average age of 20 years. This 2016 is a blend of 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano and 15% Sagrantino which was aged for one year in stainless steel tanks, followed by another two years in mostly neutral large oak casks and yet another year in bottle before release. Even with all that aging, this wine can go many more years and will become even more complex with time. Right now, we might still recommend decanting it to release the splendor of its savory, minerally and earthy overtones and would say it will be best enjoyed alongside an equally savory and earthy dish.
The Bea family history dates back to the 1500s in the beautiful hilltop town of Montefalco, in Umbria, Italy. Their tiny estate has been a working farm for centuries, producing wine, raising animals, growing olives, fruits and vegetables for trade and their own consumption. Paolo Bea started bottling wine in 1980 and has continued his family's tradition of "natural" winemaking; not using any chemical or artificial intervention in the vineyard or the winery, observing the phases of the moon and respecting nature without "dominating" it. Paolo Bea wines are extremely limited and rather hard to come across. We are delighted to be able to sell them and do so proudly.
