Earlier this month I had the opportunity to taste a couple of outstanding wines from Umbria. There were two wines on the table from Tenuta Bellafonte. I’ll admit that I don’t drink a ton of italian wine, but even with my limited exposure to this wine region I can tell you that these wines are both tasty.
It was interesting speaking with proprietor and winemaker Peter Heilbron. The two wines that his winery makes are pretty much as hands off as one can ask. Unfiltered and hand harvested Peter has a commitment to making these wines true to his vision. What is remarkable was speaking to him about his training as a winemaker — formally he has no training. He has history working in the beverage industry but from the business side.
2015 Trebbiano Spoletino ‘Arneto’ – **** – There is just so much mineral and smoke to this wine from start to finish. There is baked apple and baked peach on the palate but the fruit really does take a back seat to the strong mineral note that rises above everything. The finish is long with a whisper of charcoal that stays on the palate.
2011 Sagrantino ‘Collenottolo’ – ****+ – This wine spends 36 months in slovenian oak. This wine is a monster in your glass. If you are going to open this in its youth it will require some serious decanting, I would say 90 minutes at the very list. Needless to say the tannin is grippy and firm. That being said there is a lot going on in the glass, there is black currant, dark cherry, juicy blackberry, wood smoke, licorice, cocoa and leather. Even needing time in a decanter I would still want to drink this wine in its youth to enjoy all the fruit while it’s young and vibrant. This is definitely a wine made to be paired with grilled beef.
