2012 Pipparello Montefalco Rosso, Paolo Bea, Umbria, Italy
OVERVIEW
The Pipparello Montefalco Rosso from Paolo Bea is genuinely one of the most exciting wines we offer at CoolerSomm and is produced in tiny quantities so we're excited to have nabbed a few cases.
Renowned in Italy and unknown outside of it, Paolo Bea is quite simply a legend in Italian winemaking and a demi-god in Umbria! The picture perfect wine town of Montefalco has to be Italy's best kept secret and the bold and tannic wines, made from the Sagrantino grape, are just stunning.
Although this wine is the Montefalco rosso and not Bea's world class Sagrantino, this local blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano is the perfect showcase of what an Umbrian blend can be. Can you tell we're in love?
There was no critic review of the 2012 Pipparello but the vintage was regarded as good-excellent so we think it's closest in style to 2015. Vivino users rate the wine 4.4/5 in 2012.
CRITIC REVIEWS ('15 Vintage)
Leave it to Bea to create a perfectly poised, structured and classic wine in such a warm vintage. The 2015 Pipparello Montefalco Rosso Riserva takes time to blossom in the glass, showing little more than dusty roses, hints of white smoke and cranberry at first. However, with coaxing, it grows in richness and volume, displaying crushed black cherry giving way to clove, lavender, sage, mint leaf and air-dried meats. All the while, there’s a fresh and feminine character, following through to the silky, almost creamy textures, which never feel weighty or cloying. Ripe red fruits and inner florals cascade across a core of spice and minerals as a layer of fine tannin begins to penetrate deeply, drying the senses and creating a sour twang. The palate aches under the Pipparello’s massive structure, and notes of tart citrus and concentrated wild berry fruit linger long. It’s going to take some time for the 2015 to mature into a more pleasurable expression, but it will be worth the wait. This is composed of 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano and 15% Sagrantino, all matured in large neutral barrels and released significantly later than most other producers' wines. 95 Points. Vinous
FOOD PAIRING INSPIRATION
A full bodied, tannic wine like this with a good splosh of Sagrantino demands red meat, think wild boar, steak, osso buco with thick sauces.
VINTAGE AND WINEMAKING
2012 was a good vintage in Umbria but next to the classic vintages of 2010 and 2013 sometimes gets forgotten. However, in the hands of Paolo Bea, world renowned for exceptional (and organic) practices both in and out of the winery, any wine from this stable will be outstanding in all but the worst of vintages.
From vines inside the Montefalco DOC classification at around 400m above sea level on south facing, clay and gravel slopes, the Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Sagrantino grapes are hand harvested, destemmed and vinified without sulphites. With 30-40 days of skin time and 12 months in steel followed by 36 months in oak and 12 months in bottle, these evocative and complex wines will last for decades.
PRODUCER NOTES
The Bea family have been resident in Montefalco for six centuries. This artisan producer is well known on the Italian wine scene and frequently scoops all the central Italian Gambero Rosso awards but outside of Italy is virtually unknown with very few of his wines making it out of the country.
The entire Bea estate encompasses just 15 hectares: 5 of which are dedicated to the vineyards, 2 to olives, and the remainder to the fruits, vegetables and grains that are grown. Sagrantino is the predominant grape, covering 60% of the vineyard surface. The remaining 40% is planted to Sangiovese and Montepulciano, with a small parcel planted to several white varieties. The vineyards are cultivated organically, all grapes are harvested manually and all wines are bottled without fining or filtration.
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SERVICE AND STORAGE TIPS
This wine should be stored around 12°C and served between 16-18°C. We recommend a minimum of 3 hours decanting before approaching this wine.
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Delivery is free when you spend over £150. For orders under this amount then a £9.99 delivery charge will be applied.
We use a tracked DPD delivery service who provide text and email tracking updates.
Every bottle sold by CoolerSomm is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine is corked or faulty, we will replace it.
2012 Pipparello Montefalco Rosso, Paolo Bea, Umbria, Italy
| Wine Card | |
| Wine Producer | Paolo Bea |
| Wine Region | Umbria |
| Wine Classification | Montefalco DOC |
| Wine Type | Red |
| Grape Variety | Sangiovese/Sagrantino & Montepulciano |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Vintage Quality | Good to Excellent - Parker |
| Maturity | Will Improve with age |
| Body | Full Bodied |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Alcohol % | 15% |
| Bottle Type | Bordeaux 75cl |
| Serving Temperature | 16-18°C |
| Food Pairing | Osso Buco, Steak, Beef |
| Awards | 95 Points - Vinous |
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