2019 Lapideus

The 2018s from Paolo Bea are undeniably pretty, fruit-focused, mid-weight wines showing outstanding purity and an early appeal, making them very easy to appreciate upon release. Giampiero Bea commented that the most significant issue was peronospora (downy mildew), which attacked the canopies and fruit due to the year's wet conditions. As a result, careful selection was necessary and yields were down between 10-15%. The 2018 vintage had an added challenge of high temperatures, yet I don’t find any signs of over-ripeness or underripe tannins. Bea did a fantastic job culling beauty and seductive textures from what I’ve come to know as one of Umbria’s most challenging years. Outside of the 2018s, the 2020 Rosso Cotidie deserves attention, as it blends red and white grapes, Sagrantino and Trebbiano Spoletino in this case. The Cotidie is unassuming yet impossible to ignore, with fantastic depth from the Sagrantino and seductive textures and acidity from the Trebbiano Spoletino. This wine captures the magic of Paolo Bea.

Paolo Bea doesn’t necessarily follow organic or biodynamic principles, although you’d be hard-pressed to find a more natural approach. The family farms five hectares of vineyards that are primarily located near the estate, some (as in the Cerrette vineyard) reaching up to 500 meters above sea level. Whether discussing natural wine or listening to the fermenting Sagrantino bubbling in the cellar, Giampiero Bea's passion is enlightening. Bea takes great pride in the old-vine Trebbiano Spoletino he cares for throughout the entire region. These vines are truly married (“vite maritata”), with the trees planted in between them, circling up their trunks and along their limbs. There are 15 different parcels like this throughout Montefalco that are used to create the Arboreus, each one only a small row or two, and tended for with exceptional attention, as one needs to climb up to the limbs of the tree to trim, maintain and harvest. A tour of the vineyards includes ancient grains and fauna used to promote biodiversity. Watching Giampiero Bea prepare and pour each bottle felt like being in a church rather than a winery, as each wine was handled like an icon or relic in preparation. In the past, I’ve spoken about the variation that can sometimes be found in these wines due to their low sulfur levels and occasional volatility. Still, from the 18 bottles that were opened and tasted, not a single one showed any sign of flaws. This alone reaffirms the importance of trusting the source of your bottle. The vintages in front of me were 2015 (hot and dry), 2016 (warm yet fresh, especially around harvest) and 2017 (torrid with reduced quantities), which reflect the continuing warming trend in the region. Unlike many other producers, Bea has managed to cull magnificently balanced wines from each year, especially 2016, where the house style and the vintage characteristics have come together to create some exceptional wines. The wines of Paolo Bea are rare, sometimes quirky, not cheap and prone to damage from storage conditions, but they are also among the absolute top wines being made in Italy today.