2012 Tenute del Cerro Colpetrone Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 750 ml

When Master Sommelier Sur Lucero was building the wine list at Napa’s Oenotri, one of his first selections was Tenute del Cerro’s Còlpetrone Sagrantino di Montefalco. It's a massive, highly concentrated wine—and became a go-to recommendation for lovers of bold Cabernet. Every night, he would watch as those guests, time and time again, fell in love with its dramatic power and endless complexity.

Over nearly a decade in the cellar, this 2012 has developed a never-ending array of aromas—plum, sun-kissed tomato, balsamic braised beef, oregano, and dried basil accented by upturned earth, worn leather, and roasted pepper. The palate is immense, showing the sophisticated polish of Brunello, the warm fruit and earthiness of Amarone, and notes of rain on hot rocks, framed by a densely structured mouthfeel and savory tannins.

All that power arises from Umbria, a landlocked region in Central Italy that’s defined by rolling hills, medieval hamlets, and full-tilt red wines. Umbria is flanked by Tuscany and Marche—the homelands of world-renowned wines—yet it produces some of the most underappreciated red wines in all of Italy.

Sagrantino is one of Italy’s most ancient varieties. It has the highest level of polyphenols of almost any red grape—an antioxidant component that lends the 2012 Còlpetrone its intensely powerful tannins and significant ageability. In Montefalco, called the “balcony of Umbria” for its hilltop roost in the heart of the region, hot, arid growing seasons awaken those tannins as the Sagrantino ripens. 

Founded in 1978, Tenute del Cerro is the estate behind La Poderina in Montalcino and Fattoria del Cerro in Montepulciano, both standouts in their respective regions. Vinous founder Antonio Galloni said Còlpetrone’s wines are “equally outstanding,” and this 2012 proves it.