| Producer | Paolo Bea |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Umbria |
| Varietal | Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Sagrantino |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 1158205 |
| Size | 750ml |
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Tasting Notes: San Valentino is a blend of 40% Sagrantino, 40% Sangiovese, and 20% Montepulciano, is the beginning of the journey for Bea lovers. Sourced from a mix of younger vines that don’t make the cut in one of the crus, and partly from 40- to 50-year-old vines, the wine is fermented and aged two years in steel, then transferred to large Slavonian casks for two additional years. 2016 spent 41 days macerating on its skins with a refined texture not seen in past vintages. Incredibly vibrant on the nose this offers a kitchen cabinet of exotic spices as is the norm, but this vintage has an elevated elegance with a stunning balance.
Estate History: References in the archives of Montefalco, the beautiful hill town in Umbria, document the presence of the Bea family in this locality as early as 1500. This tiny estate is the classic Italian fattoria, producing wine, raising farm animals for trade and home consumption and working the land to produce olives, fruits and vegetables. To this day, the Bea family raises and produces much of what they consume on a daily basis.
Paolo Bea, the senior member of the family, is the guiding force behind the production of this series of intense and idiosyncratic wines. He is assisted by his two sons, Giuseppe, who farms the vineyards, and Giampiero, who assists in the vinification and is responsible for all commercial aspects of the winery. The entire property encompasses 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.
