WTN: Bea-trix

Paolo Bea, Montefalco Rosso Riserva, 2000
The mid-level Bea wine, also called Vigna Pipparello. This has a mature-looking color, slightly tawny toward the rim. Red fruited, goji berry, smelling a little volatile. On the palate, it's tasting a bit mature as well, sweetness confused by old Madeira wine casks, billberry and cooked raspberry porridge. Call it 'high-toned' or volatile, this trickster needs to be consumed. A little chill gives the wine a better showing, but this is still on wine on the edge. B+
13.4%

Interesting note. I've never yet had a wine from Bea. I am discouraged by their prices and I believe that he makes visitors pay for tasting his wines; this practice is still thankfully unusual in Europe though I did meet it at Fonterutoli.

Interestingly, when I asked for his wine at the enoteca in the main square in Montefalco, the shopkeeper pulled a face and muttered something like "vinegar". All the other well known producers were stocked and many less well known.

Isn't that old for a Montefalco Rosso? But I see that it is a Riserva. Again, I have never had a Riserva from that appellation which produces some cracking wines for drinking quite young.