2015 Scacciadiavoli Montefalco Sagrantino

Scacciadiavoli in Montefalco, Perugia, has one of the most alluring names imaginable. In Italian the name means “cast out the devils” and the estate was named in honor of a 19th century exorcist who lived near the vineyards and used wine during his exorcisms. Founded by a prince, the estate is today owned by the Pambuffetti family. Amilcare Pambuffetti acquired the estate in 1954 and it is today run by his great grandchildren. Scacciadiavoli has nearly 300 acres, 90 of which are vineyards in the Montefalco appellation. The estate’s two main wines are its flagship Montefalco Sagrantino, made of 100% Sagrantino, and the Montefalco Rosso, a blend of Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Merlot. Sagrantino is grown only in Montefalco and some other parts of Umbria. The indigenous grape is believed to have originated in Greece or Asia Minor and it produces wines of great concentration. Gambero Rosso calls Scacciadiavoli “an esteemed operation” that produces wines “increasingly contemporary in style.”

Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG is south of Perugia in central Umbria near the communes of Montefalco and Bevagna. To carry this DOCG status, a wine must be 100% Sagrantino. The “secco” wines, or dry Sagrantinos, must be aged for a minimum of 30 months, with 12 months in wood. The sweet Sagrantinos, called “passito,” also require 30 months of aging, but do not need to spend time in wooden barrels. The appellation was awarded DOC status in 1980, then elevated to DOCG status in 1992. Sagrantino di Montefalco is considered one of the rising stars of the Italian wine world. The wines are rich, age-worthy and very high in polyphenols, which are naturally occurring chemical compounds in grape skins. Commonly called resveratrol, these are the compounds referred to in articles about the positive effects of red wine on cholesterol levels. The grape Sagrantino is an ancient and somewhat mysterious variety. It is thought to have arrived in Umbria from Greece, and its name refers, probably, to the word “sagra,” or festival. Though Umbria is mostly known for its white wines, Sagrantino is a big, tannic wine that, traditionally, was specially made for community festivals.