2019 Paolo Bea, Sagrantino di Montefalco, Secco Pagliaro

Pagliaro is the historic heart of the Bea estate, a hillside vineyard just outside Montefalco that has been farmed by the family since the early 20th century. The wine takes its name from the local word for a straw stack once used in the fields.

At Paolo Bea, Sagrantino is handled with patience: fermentations can last a month or more with extended time on the skins, followed by several years in large Slavonian oak casks. The goal is not to soften the grape’s formidable tannins but to let them settle with time.

The 2019 vintage produced structured Sagrantino across Montefalco. In Pagliaro that strength shows alongside dark fruit, spice, and the earthy character that has made this vineyard one of the reference points of the appellation.