2018 Montefalco Sagrantino Chiusa di Pannone

Antonelli San Marco did a fabulous job dealing with the conditions of the 2018 vintage, turning out a selection of Sagrantino atypical of the year. I don’t find the unbalanced tannin-to-fruit profile that marks many of the year’s wines here. Instead, the Molino dell'Attone, Chiusa di Pannone and flagship Montefalco Sagrantino show radiant fruit and elegant textures. These wines are more lifted and agile than expected in their youthful state. While they may drink earlier than the norm, I don’t see that as a problem, especially with how long-lived Sagrantino tannins tend to be. Ultimately, they are some of the vintage's top wines. If readers want to return to a more classic and structured style, then the 2019s will fit the bill. I only tasted the flagship Sagrantino, but from that alone, I’m very excited to see what else Filippo Antonelli has up his sleeves.