Paolo Bea

Riserva Pipparello Montefalco Rosso Sangiovese Blend

9.317 ratings
9.41 pro ratings
Montefalco, Perugia, Umbria, Italy
Sangiovese Blend
Goose, Game, Exotic Spices, Baking Spices, Chili & Hot Spicy, Duck, Pasta, Herbs, Beans & Peas, Mushrooms, Onion, Veal, Hard Cheese, Pork, Tomato-Based, Pungent Cheese, Chicken, Turkey, Salami & Prosciutto, Soft Cheese, Venison
Top Notes For
Delectable Wine

Follow to learn about our favorite wines & people.

9.4

Leave it to Bea to create a perfectly poised, structured and classic wine in such a warm vintage. The 2015 Pipparello Montefalco Rosso Riserva takes time to blossom in the glass, showing little more than dusty roses, hints of white smoke and cranberry at first. However, with coaxing, it grows in richness and volume, displaying crushed black cherry giving way to clove, lavender, sage, mint leaf and air-dried meats. All the while, there’s a fresh and feminine character, following through to the silky, almost creamy textures, which never feel weighty or cloying. Ripe red fruits and inner florals cascade across a core of spice and minerals as a layer of fine tannin begins to penetrate deeply, drying the senses and creating a sour twang. The palate aches under the Pipparello’s massive structure, and notes of tart citrus and concentrated wild berry fruit linger long. It’s going to take some time for the 2015 to mature into a more pleasurable expression, but it will be worth the wait. This is composed of 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano and 15% Sagrantino, all matured in large neutral barrels and released significantly later than most other producers' wines. (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2021)

Leave it to Bea to create a perfectly poised, structured and classic wine in such a warm vintage. The 2015 Pipparello Montefalco Rosso Riserva takes time to blossom in the glass, showing little more than dusty roses, hints of white smoke and cranberry at first. However, with coaxing, it grows in richness and volume, displaying crushed black cherry giving way to clove, lavender, sage, mint leaf and air-dried meats. All the while, there’s a fresh and feminine character, following through to the silky, almost creamy textures, which never feel weighty or cloying. Ripe red fruits and inner florals cascade across a core of spice and minerals as a layer of fine tannin begins to penetrate deeply, drying the senses and creating a sour twang. The palate aches under the Pipparello’s massive structure, and notes of tart citrus and concentrated wild berry fruit linger long. It’s going to take some time for the 2015 to mature into a more pleasurable expression, but it will be worth the wait. This is composed of 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano and 15% Sagrantino, all matured in large neutral barrels and released significantly later than most other producers' wines. (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2021)

1 person found it helpfulAug 19th, 2021
Jay Kline

A generous buddy of mine brought this over to share which was super exciting since I had not yet tried the 2015 Pipparello. Bottle #4232/9963. The wine pours a deep garnet color with moderate staining of the tears, medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium- intensity and pretty reticent to be honest. After a few hours in the glass it only started to uncoil; beginning to reveal a mix of dark and red fruits, cumin, dried herbs and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry, medium+ acid and medium+ tannin. The fruit is tightly packed and comes across extremely primary and clearly still developing. However, the quality is undeniably high and I’m very much looking forward to tracking the evolution of this vintage. That being said, I personally won’t consider opening another bottle until after 2025.

A generous buddy of mine brought this over to share which was super exciting since I had not yet tried the 2015 Pipparello. Bottle #4232/9963. The wine pours a deep garnet color with moderate staining of the tears, medium+ viscosity. On the nose, medium- intensity and pretty reticent to be honest. After a few hours in the glass it only started to uncoil; beginning to reveal a mix of dark and red fruits, cumin, dried herbs and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry, medium+ acid and medium+ tannin. The fruit is tightly packed and comes across extremely primary and clearly still developing. However, the quality is undeniably high and I’m very much looking forward to tracking the evolution of this vintage. That being said, I personally won’t consider opening another bottle until after 2025.

Dec 31st, 2021
Mark Schumacher

This is fantastic

This is fantastic

May 8th, 2023
Neal Krishna Devaraj

Juicy jammy and full of tannins. Needs a few years but will be a showstopper

Juicy jammy and full of tannins. Needs a few years but will be a showstopper

May 27th, 2022
William Paley

inky maroon. seductively clingy on the teeth - a real stripper, with a gorgeously powdery mouthfeel. black fruits and black flowers, tobacco farm envelope. anise seed, elderberry, bitter almond, arsenic and old lace! fuuuuuck.

inky maroon. seductively clingy on the teeth - a real stripper, with a gorgeously powdery mouthfeel. black fruits and black flowers, tobacco farm envelope. anise seed, elderberry, bitter almond, arsenic and old lace! fuuuuuck.

Jun 4th, 2021
Charles York

Love this. So unique. Blue, blackberry. Tannins. Vanilla. Love.

Love this. So unique. Blue, blackberry. Tannins. Vanilla. Love.

Mar 16th, 2021
Hillary & Dave

Black fruit and plums. Tar, tea. Grippy tannins. Smooth but powerful. Peak Bea.

Black fruit and plums. Tar, tea. Grippy tannins. Smooth but powerful. Peak Bea.

Feb 15th, 2021
Mark Stephany

2015. Way better 2nd day

2015. Way better 2nd day

Feb 11th, 2021
Michal Rosenn

savory, purple fruit, opens up beautifully

savory, purple fruit, opens up beautifully

Nov 8th, 2020
Mario Zillner

Mario had this 7 months ago

Mario had this 7 months ago

Aug 25th, 2023