Venti Cinque : Caprai Sagrantino

~ Family Proprietor & Winemaker, Marco Caprai ~

The Arnaldo Caprai winery is one of the largest in Montefalco.  With over 1,000 acres devoted to grasslands, olives and wilderness, there are still 370 acres under vine for production.  

Started in 1971 by his father Arnaldo,  Marco took over managing the winery in 1988 and brought with him a passion and determination to produce top quality wines from the region. Over the past two decades, Marco's commitment has led to groundbreaking research and experimentation on clonal selection, new trellising systems, and higher density plantings with all aspects pointing toward greater and greater quality.  

As Arnaldo Caprai has received some of the highest honors a winery can from publications like Gambero Rosso and Wine Enthusiast,  it's clear that Marco's vision is being realized.  

~ Hilltop Montefalco ~

 Today we're focusing on the winery's flagship Sagrantino, the "25 Anni" created for the 25th Anniversary of the winery.  I reported on two vintages of this wine in my large Reds of Montefalco report about a year ago and thought it would be a good time to check in on the 2005.  

The 2005 Sagrantino 25 Anni is a broad shouldered, muscular, massive, rich wine.  Like Marco joked with me recently,  "it's not Pinot Grigio, Giovanni!"   Truer statements were never made.  

We decanted the wine for about 4 hours before dinner but took small tastes along the way to see how the wine was developing.  Aromatically, this is compelling.  There's notable aromas of crushed black fruit, fennel, grilled meat, roasted coffee and spice.  On the palate, the wine is full bodied and massive in all aspects. The core of dark fruits is immense and with that are added notes of smoke, grilled meat, earth and spices.  The fruit, acids and tannins are in balance throughout the midpalate, yet on the finish, those tannins still clamp down and take firm grasp of your cheeks!  It's interesting to taste this now, but I will still advise to cellar another 5-10 years. 95 points, about $80. Food Pairing:  Ragu sul Cinghiale and grilled Filet Mignons wrapped in bacon.

~ Simply opaque black in the decanter ~ 

E vero!