Sagrantino reminds me of the dark comedy version of Sangiovese, with its deep colored fruits, beefy tannin, and fiery earth. Sometimes I forget about Sagrantino; I forget about how complex, intriguing, and delicious it can be, especially when it's a bit nippy outside. Located in the Italy's landlocked region of Umbria, Còlpetrone is part of the "Big Three" Sagrantino gatekeepers, along with the modern pioneer, Arnaldo Caprai, and the natural wine icon, Paolo Bea. Còlpetrone's wines fall somewhere in-between their two styles: not as flashy as the Caprai style, yet, not as wild as the Bea one. 

With plenty of time under cork, this 2012 uncovers the best of Montefalco with smokey chestnut, Amarena cherry, sweet blackberry, and scents of wild boar. The tannins are firm, yet smooth, and carry the wine to its long finish, So, with the crisp evenings ahead of us, don't forget about one of Italy's greatest red grapes, from a little place, off-the-road, called Montefalco.