On the Road with the Grape Guy
Day Two of Tastings - Montefalco 2023
07 Jan 2024- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(April 2023) … Once again, kudos to the PR company Miriade & Partners who make Day 2 even more interesting than Day 1. Using an app you pre-select the wineries you wish to visit and they shuttle journalists to their selected venues at pre-determined times. Ingenious. Sometimes you are the only journalist at your selected venue; other times you find yourself in a group. This is the way gems are discovered. Instead of being forced into going to the same-old wineries that only interest a handful in your party. I checked out a couple of fresh places (to me) and a couple of old favourites. I wish other regions did this type of visit “schedule” and if you are interested in knowing how, I have a PR agency for you to contact.
Today my chosen wineries were Le Thadee, Tenuta Saragano (gem), Luca di Tomaso (gem) and Scacciadiavoli
– those without the term “gem” beside their name I’ve visited before and I already knew they were, that’s why I went back.
Le Thadiee 2018 Carlo Re 
(Sagrantino)
Amphora fermented, then spends two-and-a-half years in tonneau. Black fruit dominated nose with a palate that is dusty and dense - this is also a wine that needs some time, but I have faith the fruit will appear - the nose is too good for it not to. I’m judging it on the now, not its future potential. (*** ½+)
Le Thadee 2019 Pio IX
(Sagrantino)
Coffee and leather on the nose - interestingly dry on the palate, but also fighting with the sugars and sweetness. (*** ½)
Tenuta Saragano 2017 Rosso
(Sangiovese 60% / Merlot 25% / Sagrantino 15%)
Winemaking/winery goes back 32 generations. They have the highest elevation vineyards of the region (500m), which would have been foolhardy for 30 of those 32 previous generations. But now they look like geniuses. Proving that genius takes time to be recognized. Some of their Sagrantino vines are 50+ year of age, and this wine spends 18 months in oak … Nice fruit on the palate with smoky and gritty note to be found. Needs more time as this is fairly rustic in nature. (*** ½)
Tenuta Saragano 2017 Riserva 
(Sangiovese 60% / 20% each Merlot - Sagrantino)
2 years in oak: smoky, mocha, black cherry, blackberry, cassis, black plum ... there's a juiciness in the mouth mid-palate, and a nice hit of tannins. Opens smooth and silky, but still with that tannic bite. On of, if not the best, Riserva tasted through the week (video to come). (****+)
Tenuta Saragano 2016 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Sangrantino)
Black fruit, smoky, oaky and chewy - but there’s that lovely fruit up front before the tannins take over and the palate becomes dry and a bit leathery. (****+)
Tenuta Saragano 2007 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Sangrantino) – older wine
Soft and smooth with coffee, mocha leather and smoky notes lingering about. Great acidity and tannins still hang on. YES - drink up now.
Tenuta Saragano NV (2019) Umbria Rosso
(Sangiovese / Merlot)
Nice fruit forward wine, with cherry, wild blueberry and backed by a smoky nuance. (*** ½+)
Luca di Tomaso 2019 Rosso
(Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon / Sagrantino)
Luca started winery when he was 23 – he is now 30 - he moved from Milan, where he worked in his family restaurant, to start the project. Dark fruit, really supple, subtle spice and a lovely mouth feel - this is going places and I want to follow. (****+)
Luca di Tomaso 2018 Rosso
(Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon / Sagrantino)
More astringent, acidity is more prominent, plus dark fruit; still needs a few years to emerge. (*** ½+)
Luca di Tomaso 2017 Rosso 
(Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon / Sagrantino)
Hot season with an early frost … aggressive tannins, plus dark fruit, leather, smoky, and even some sweet/tart fruit-leather notes all introduced by a nice perfume. (*** ½)
Luca di Tomaso 2016 Rosso
(Sangiovese / Cabernet Sauvignon / Sagrantino)
Floral and smoky, tannins seem less aggressive and drinks well, all with a touch a herbaceousness. (*** ½)
Luca di Tomaso 2016 Sagrantino
(Sagrantino)
Aggressive tannins, but the front palate has some lovely red and black fruit all held together by good acidity - needs time, but it has the stuffing to go places. (*** ½+)
Scacciadiavoli NV Brut
(85% Sagrantino / 15% Chardonnay)
36 months on lees in the traditional method - lovely freshness and crispness, apple, peach, nice minerality; still one of the best bubbles in the area. (****)
Scacciadiavoli NV Brut Rose
(Sagrantino)
24 months on lees in the traditional method - a little oxidized and strange - lacks that pretty freshness showcased on the Brut. (***+)
Scacciadiavoli 2021 Spoleto
(Trebianno Spoletino)
Bright and fresh - but with a little oxidation on the back end, that detracts a little from the finish. (*** ½)
Scacciadiavoli 2021 Montefalco Rosso
(60% Sangiovese / 25% Merlot / 15% Sagrantino)
Nice red berry fruit, a little blackberry slides through on the mid-palate, and there’s a little spice, backed with good acidity. (****)
Scacciadiavoli 2019 Montefalco Sagrantino
(Sagrantino)
Spicy wood character, but the mid-palate has a juicy-spiciness, along with some raspberry and cherry notes. It is very well-balanced. (****+)
Scacciadiavoli 2019 Passito
(Sagrantino)
Black cherry, with a hint of tobacco; these wines never come across as sweet and cloying. (****)
