2018 Merlot Belcompare

There is simply no arguing what Marco Caprai has done for Umbria and Sagrantino. Some may say that the wines are international, which they are. Others might scoff at the extreme use of oak, such as a 200% new-oak Sagrantino. It was time, research, hard work, forward-thinking and Caprai’s love for the region that ultimately put Montefalco on the international wine map. Granted, a taster needs to appreciate the application of oak, which in this case is expertly used to tame the aggressive tannins of Sagrantino; the Sagrantino 25 Anni still needs five to ten years to begin to reveal its true magic. While waiting, there’s always the Rosso Montefalco Vigna Flaminia or the Sagrantino Collepiano, two of the region's best values within their categories. For fans of Bordeaux varieties, look at the Merlot Belcompare, which goes through a 50 to 60-day maceration on the skins where the barrel is kept in constant yet gentle motion, then aged for 24 months in barriques.