Blackberries, plums, sweet mint, cedar and hints of sour citrus form a deeply captivating display as the 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino blossoms in the glass. Its silky textures wash across the palate with rosy red fruits and mineral tones, lifted and energized by bright acidity. This finishes long and structured yet also incredibly fresh and floral, as nuances of licorice and autumnal spice slowly taper off. The 2016 is a harmonious effort that is already quite likeable, but it should also excel through medium-term cellaring.

Pungent smoke and tobacco notes on the nose transition to sweet dried cherry and raspberry fruit flavors on the palate in this full-bodied red. Dense tannins show a creamy edge, knitting them more easily to the fruit flavor, citrus peel acidity and accents of fig cake, loamy earth and ground white pepper. Grippy finish. Best from 2023 through 2030. 3,000 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

The 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino draws its fruit from 30-year-old vines in a seven-hectare plot with southwest exposures. This wine offers plump fruit and modern styling that is achieved thanks to careful fermentation and aging in oak. The wine rests in large casks for two years. Dark cherry, spice and barbecue smoke cede to relatively softer Sagrantino tannins and an integrated 15% alcohol content. - Monica Larner