Paolo Bea Umbria 'Rosso de Veo' 2017
References in the archives of Montefalco, the beautiful hill town in Umbria, document the presence of the Bea family in this locality as early as 1500. This tiny estate is the classic Italian fattoria, producing wine, raising farm animals for trade and home consumption and working the land to produce olives, fruits and vegetables. To this day, the Bea family raises and produces much of what they consume on a daily basis. Paolo Bea, the senior member of the family, is the guiding force behind the production of this series of intense and idiosyncratic wines. He is assisted by his two sons, Giuseppe, who farms the vineyards, and Giampiero, who assists in the vinification and is responsible for all commercial aspects of the winery.
The entire property encompasses 15 hectares: 5 of which are dedicated to the vineyards, 2 to olives, and the remainder to the fruits, vegetables and grains that are grown. Sagrantino is the predominant grape, covering 60% of the vineyard surface. The remaining 40% is planted to Sangiovese and Montepulciano, with a small parcel planted to several white varieties. The vineyards are cultivated organically, all grapes are harvested manually and all wines are bottled without fining or filtration.
Production notes
• Fermentation: After crushing and destemming, wine ferments spontaneously in stainless-steel tanks. Cuvaision lasts 40-50 days.
• Pressing: Vertical basket press
• Time on Lees: c. 12 months
• Malolactic Fermentation: Spontaneous, in tank following alcoholic fermentation
• Élevage: c. 12 months in stainless-steel tanks followed by 24 months in large, Slavonian oak botti
• Press Wine: Blended after malolactic
• Fining and Filtration: Unfined and unfiltered
• Sulfur: No added sulfur, with 40-55 mg/l total sulfur
Other notes
Bea’s “Rosso de Veo” (Veo is how family’s name is pronounced in the old Umbrian dialect) is a selection of the Bea estate’s younger Sagrantino vines, principally from the “Cerrete” vineyard which graces the highest point in Montefalco, between 1300 and 1500 feet above sea level. It is vinified similarly to Bea's single-vineyard Sagrantino offerings, with long macerations and time in cask.
Vintage | 2017 |
Varietal | 100% Sagrantino |
Appellation | Umbria IGT |
Alcohol | 13.00% |
Volume | 750 ml |
Country of Origin | ITALY |
State of Origin | N/A |
Artificially Carbonated | No |
Sparkling Wine | No |
• Parcel Names, Slopes, and Locations: From multiple sloped parcels surrounding Montefalco, primarily the Cerrete vineyard, which sits at the village's highest point
• Soil Types and Compositions: Limestone-clay and pebbles
• Vine Age, Training, and Density: Trained in Cordon, vines are younger plants excluded from other Sagrantino bottlings.
• Average Yields: Controlled through severe winter pruning and debudding, yields range widely vintage to vintage.
• Average Harvest Date and Type: Manual, usually in early October