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The vintage 2014 in Italy has been considered very difficult but, as often happens, we have been surprised by the final result.

This is what happened also in Montefalco area (Umbria region, central Italy) where the preview tasting of Sagrantino 2014, notorious and powerful red of the region, has been held last week.

What happened in 2014? Here are the most relevant elements:

  • High level of Rainfalls, a situation that makes the management of the vineyard hard
  • August was colder than usual
  • Fortunately, September was warm enough to support the maturation of the grapes
  • As a result wine growers got grapes with thin skins and slightly diluted musts
  • The Vintage has been officially rated with 3 stars out of 5

After having tasted the all available wines: 43 Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014 and 6 Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG 2014, I have personally found:

  • “Easy-drinking” wines:

In many cases they are less powerful than usual with a lighter body and, sometimes, a shorter finish in return for easier drinking wines

  • “Homogeneity” of production:

I found a great territorial coherence: it seems that the difficult conditions have pushes the producers toward the same direction, toward the maximum attention (otherwise they would have lost anything) while maintaining, of course, their stylistic differences. It will be interesting to talk to them and discover what they have actually done and though.

In short, without running the risk of falling into excessively enthusiastic judgments, the most important thing is the growth of a territory that has faced a difficult vintage much better if compared to similar years (see 2002).

Please find here my top list:

DRY:

  • Bartoloni “Normannia” Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Colle Ciocco Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Tenuta Bellafonte “Collenottolo” Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Romanelli Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Napolini Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Antonelli Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Le Cimate Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Di Filippo Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Tudernum “Fidenzio” Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Tabarrini “Colle Grimaldesco” Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014
  • Fattoria Colleallodole Milziade Antano Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2014

SWEET:

  • Fratelli Pardi Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG 2014
  • Colle Ciocco Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG 2014
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