On the Road with the Grape Guy

Montefalco Winery Visits – an honest take - 2

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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

A Montefalco is just around the corner (June 16-18, 2025) … on the eve of that event, I thought I’d put my final reviews from last year. These include my winery visits. 

The highlight of A Montefalco, besides the day of tasting, are the days leading up to, and the days afterward. These are the days for visiting the wineries and getting to know the producers. One of the days is a prescribed list of wineries – the other days you have free rein to visit whomever you want; which is helpful, especially post-tasting, when you've made a discovery of an up-and-coming winery you want to learn more about. I have discovered many producers with great passions this way. 

This year, there were a few changes to the program, but all-in-all it was pretty much as described above. I found myself at 11 wineries. Some had large vertical tastings, others toured and tasted through their facilities, and some prepared a lunch with their tasting. Each was a unique experience; each showing their generosity and hospitality. 

Some even sat down with me to discuss Montefalco, Sagrantino and other subjects for the Two Guys Talking Wine podcast (listen here).

I have highlighted six wineries this year ... And all their wines: the good, the bad, the ugly. Three appear in this article, the rest will follow in the next.
 
Wineries appear in alphabetical order - not in order of visiting day; while the wines themselves are presented mainly in date order (oldest to youngest).

Let's get tasting...

LE CIMATE

This is a winery willing to push boundaries and use different grapes for some of their wines. Not listed below is their super Umbrian, made with Sagrantino and Cabernet Sauvignon - a wine we tasted on the podcast and at 10 years it was a superstar. Looking for out-of-the-box wines - you'll find them here.

Le Cimate 2015 Donna Giulia - Montefalco Sagrantino    
(Grape: Sagrantino) – Lots of fours come up in the making of this wine: 4 months on skins in barrel, 4 years in 1000L Austrian oak, and aged 4 years in bottle ... the wine had been open two days and was quite oxidative in nature; with some plum and black fruit.  (NS)        

Le Cimate 2016 Passito
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Good smoky-sweetness, with black cherry, and a surprisingly dry finish.  (****+)

Le Cimate 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Still with some grippy tannins; there's a touch of fruit on the background; will it materialize with a little more time? Not sure. Again, the bottle was previously open, no length of time given, but it was more than a few hours. Cassis and dark fruit woven with tannins and smoke.  (*** ½)

Le Cimate 2020 Brut Nature
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Forty months on lees, bubbles dissipate quickly, making it a nice white wine ... but without the sparkle, it is just a white wine. I want to encourage more winemakers to make bubbles with Spoletino. Please.  (*** ½)

Le Cimate 2021 Trebbiano Spoletino Riserva 
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Five days on skins, using two yeasts - aged 1-year in big barrel. Two years in bottle. Thicker, richer flavours, deeper colour, pineapple core, with a little tannin scrape across the tongue. Backing off the skin contact, just a little, would increase the freshness and enjoyability.  (*** ½)

Le Cimate 2022 Passito
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Floral and flavourful, honeyied pineapple, mouthfilling – finish is short making the mouth ready for the next sip, which you’ll crave.  (****)

Le Cimate 2022 Spoleto
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Stainless Steel – using two yeasts ... fresh and steely, with notes of lemon curd and good acidity – fresh and fine.  (*** ½)

Le Cimate 2023 Saudade (Nostalgia)
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Rosato - Fresh, clean, though there is a grit from Sagrantino grape, strawberry-lemon rind/pith ... tough grape to work with but it is nice. Another style I encourage, with a reminder to keep it fresh.  (*** ½)

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LUNGAROTTI 

Continues to be one of the consistent producers of the area. While their winery might not over impress, they over-deliver on quality. They realize that Sagrantino is a tough sell and a tough grape and are working hard to make those wines drinkable sooner. And they also make some super sparkly wines; which we ask for and get. 

Lungarotti 2018 Passito    
(Grape: Sagrantino) - VA kicks things off ... these late-harvested grapes are dried in cellar, maximum 3 weeks ... Sweet and savoury perfect pairing with Blue Cheese.  (****)

Lungarotti 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Ageing in big wood barrels & barrique ... you can feel the softness and fruitiness of the wine coming through due to the influence of larger wooden barrels. Deep, dark fruit and smoke, tannins are not in your face. Much more approachable than Sagrantino's reputation.  (*** ½+)

Lungarotti 2020 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) – Another version that’s approachable early, tannins are non-aggressive; with nice black cherry, bittersweet chocolate and wood smoke. Similar to the 2019 in its approach to the palate.  (*** ½+)

Lungarotti 2020 Rosso Riserva 
(Grapes: Sangiovese 60 / Sagrantino 15 / Merlot 25) - 2 months extra ageing from the 2020 non-Reserva ... Sangiovese is being replanted a project started in 2022, therefore. Riserva is the only Rosso being made. 2026 will see the return of base-model Rosso. Fruit comes out on both the nose and palate: strawberry and smoke with a tart finish that lingers with notes of black cherry weaving in-and-out.  (*** ½+)

Lungarotti NV Rose - Brut
(Grapes: Sangiovese / Pinot Grigio) – A minimum of 24 months on lees. Lungarotti has been making traditional method sparkling since the 70's, and started selling in the 80's. Today they make three kinds. To make this wine they use three vintages of which the base for this version is 2021. Fresh and easy, nice strawberry, subtle lime, nice bubble. Super pleasant and tasty.  (****)

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VALDANGIUS

Another winery pushing limits and trying new things - some of them work, some do not - but if you don't try you'll never know, you'll never learn - that approach I applaud and admire - I do not always applaud and admire the results. Advice: keep pushing, but also know when to lay off.

Valdangius 2014 Fortunato - Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Rustic Style; hard to drink. 

Valdangius 2017 Fortunato - Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Rustic Style; hard to drink. 

Valdangius 2019 Angelina - Passito
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Nice dried black cherry sweetness, and yet still has a dry-ish finish.  (****)

Valdangius 2019 Filium and 2021 Filium
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) – Eight-months in oak, way too long, in my opinion, wine loses its vibrancy. Same applies for each of the wines.
        
Valdangius 2019 Rosso Riserva
(Grapes: Sangiovese / Sagrantino / Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon) - Better use of the wood and the fruit here - still has a tannin kick, but comes across as more integrated.  (*** ½+)

Valdangius 2016 Campo di Pico 
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - oxidative and leesy.

Valdangius 2019 Campo di Pico
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Clean, waxy, and dry honey.

Valdangius 2020 Campo di Pico
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Tastes fresher than the 2022 - clean and rich with good acidity - of the four wines, I liked this one the best and would happily drink this one.  (*** ½+)

Valdangius 2022 Campo di Pico
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - A more leesy driven style.

Valdangius 2022 Ventibolle Rose Sagrantino (Ancetrale Sparkling)
(Grape: Sagrantino) - This has a nice bit of flavour to it - the rasp/strawberry pith like nature of the wine leaves the tongue a little gritty, like licking the pith of any fruit.  (***)

Valdangius 2023 Bianco
(Grapes: Chardonnay / Sauvignon Blanc / Pecorino) - Nice acidity and mouthfeel, refreshing, citrusy, pithy - surprising.  (*** ½+)

Valdangius 2023 Umbria Rosso
(Grapes: Sangiovese / Merlot) - Juicy, fresh, cherry, raspberry, chillable - easy drinking and full of flavour.  (****)

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To see my notes from A Montefalco tasting visit these links:

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG – Annata 2020
Montefalco Sagrantino Vintage Wines
Sagrantino: Tasting on Tannin Strength and Positioning
Montefalco Rosso and Riserva Report
Montefalco White Wines Report

Montefalco Winery Visits – an honest take - 1

Details

Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy

The next edition of A Montefalco (Anteprima Montefalco) is next week (June 16-18) … on the eve of that event, I thought I’d look at some of my winery visits from last year. 

The highlight of A Montefalco, besides the day of tasting, are the days leading up to, and the days afterward. These are the days for visiting the wineries and getting to know the producers. One of the days is a prescribed list of wineries – the other days you have free rein to visit whomever you want; which is helpful, especially post-tasting, when you've made a discovery of an up-and-coming winery you want to learn more about. I have discovered many producers with great passions this way. 

This year, there were a few changes to the program, but all-in-all it was pretty much as described above. I found myself at 11 wineries. Some had large vertical tastings, others toured and tasted through their facilities, and some prepared a lunch with their tasting. Each was a unique experience; each showing their generosity and hospitality. 

Some even sat down with me to discuss Montefalco, Sagrantino and other subjects for the Two Guys Talking Wine podcast (listen here).

I have highlighted six wineries this year ... And all their wines: the good, the bad, the ugly. Three appear in this article, the rest will follow in the next.
 
Wineries appear in alphabetical order - not in order of visiting day; while the wines themselves are presented mainly in date order (oldest to youngest).

Let's get tasting...

ALZATURA

Let’s call this your father's Sagrantino ... The Sagrantinos feel old school, lots of wood that will never resolve into fruit. The whites and rossos save the day- with the rosso and spoletino being the standout wines.

Alzatura 2010 Montefalco Sagrantino 
(Grape: Sagrantino) - A lesson in wood, alcohol and maybe a little licorice.

Alzatura 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - There's a lot of wood and tannins.

Alzatura 2017 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - A little too harsh.

Alzatura 2021 Montefalco Bianco    
(Grapes: White Blend) - It's white wine - good and tasty white wine. It won’t blow you away, it does what you want a white wine to do: refreshing and easy-drinking; but it’s basic white wine.  (***+)

Alzatura 2021 Montefalco Rosso    
(Grapes: Red Blend) - Soft and gentle red, with good fruit and flavours devoted to black cherry, spice and a hint of vanilla.  (*** ½+)

Alzatura 2023 Cortili
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - Fresh, bright, easy-drinking - honey, lemon curd, almost feels like there are tannins on the finish – and maybe some citrus pith.  (*** ½)

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BOCALE

This winery has been dialling back on its wood program from small barrels to big - increasing the juice to wood ratio and it shows: the wines are becoming more fruit-forward, bright and elegant. Rosso's are consistently good and their spoletino is usually a favorite. 

Bocale 2009 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Barrique focused - musty, oaky, fruitless. 

Bocale 2014 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Move towards bigger barrels is afoot - fruit is still lively, though the oak still has taken purchase within the wine. Drink now. (*** ½+)

Bocale 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Fruit is forefront, oak still around, and tannins quite present; but there’s a juiciness to this wine that adds pleasure to its enjoyment.  (****)

Bocale 2021 Montefalco Rosso
(Grapes: Sangiovese 70 / Colorino 5 / 10 Merlot / 15 Sagrantino) - Three harvests to make this wine: Colorino and Merlot in September - Sangiovese in late Sept - and Sagrantino at the end of October. Red-berry fruit, subtle oak notes, and a quick finish. Very drinkable.  (*** ½+)

Bocale 2023 Spoleto
(Grape: Trebbiano Spoletino) - All stainless ageing. Light, fresh with green melon, lemon curd and a subtle saltiness. This is not Bocale’s best effort, but it’s solidly good.  (*** ½)

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CESARINI SARTORI

Each year, I have a surprise find - this year it was Cesarini Sartori. It was my last winery visit, and it was done on a whim … and I had time to kill before leaving for Tuscany. 

The two sisters, who took over from their father, were a delight and we tried everything. They were unabashedly proud of each and every wine, and there are some real gems here.

Cesarini Sartori 2003 Sagrantino di Montefalco
(Grape: Sagrantino) – Older notes, due to its age (of course): coffee, butterscotch (a little odd), good tannin structure, with even some licorice poking through.
        
Cesarini Sartori 2013 Amedeo
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Special Selection - 1 barrel, 2 years old (20HL) - 9 yrs in bottle. They use looser bunches of grapes. The wine still has plenty of fruit, along the lines of smoked cherry, mocha, chocolate, spice and acidity - good finish. There was a lot to like here.  (**** ½)

Cesarini Sartori 2016 Semele - Passito    
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Dry, black cherry – backed by some pretty floral note.  (****)

Cesarini Sartori 2016 Villarode - Montefalco Sagrantino   
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Silky, smooth, cassis, black cherry, cranberry cocktail, nice complexity with spices and oak.  (****+)

Cesarini Sartori 2020 Benozo (IGT)
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Sweet fruited, and easy drinking with black cherry and vanilla notes.  (*** ½+)

Cesarini Sartori 2020 Ripenre - Rosso Riserva    
(Grapes: Sangiovese / Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Sagrantino) - Largely on the elegant side and yet shows signs of ruggedness - the red fruit comes thru with some good tannin that have a tendency to bite back.  (****)

Cesarini Sartori 2021 La Randa
(Grapes: Grechetto 90 / Sauvignon Blanc 10) - Fermentation in new American oak ... there's a weight to the wine which over-shadows the fruit a bit, though there are signs of bitter melon – it’s more a food friendly white.  (*** ½)
        
Cesarini Sartori 2021 Terrebianche - Montefalco Rosso    
(Grapes: Sangiovese / Merlot / Cabernet Sauvignon / Sagrantino) - Smooth, lush, lots of dark fruit, spice, and great acidity.  (****)

Cesarini Sartori 2022 Grechetto    
(Grapes: Grechetto 90 / Sauvignon Blanc 10) - All stainless ... leaving this wine fresh with notes of citrus and apple.  (*** ½)

Cesarini Sartori 2022 Olmobuco
(Grapes: Trebbiano Spoletino 95 / Malvasia 5) - Three months in American oak which helps derive sweetness. This wines fights with itself - sweet notes upfront with a dry finish - fun little wine - lots of fruit, but that finish is dry as a bone.  (****)

Cesarini Sartori 2023 Peperosa
(Grape: Sagrantino) - Lovely strawberry and cherry – those tannins from the grape come thru, but do not get in the way: grilled meat would be a perfect pairing.  (*** ½+)

Cesarini Sartori (Signae) 2019 Merlo --- see the video review
(Grape: Merlot) - Lush, plush, sexy and beautiful - a real pleaser - lovely acidity, blueberry, black cherry, cran-cherry, smoke ... spends 1-year in French barrique ... has lots of character. A special wine that shows a passion for the grape.  (**** ½)

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To see my notes from A Montefalco tasting visit these links:

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG – Annata 2020
Montefalco Sagrantino Vintage Wines
Sagrantino: Tasting on Tannin Strength and Positioning
Montefalco Rosso and Riserva Report
Montefalco White Wines Report