Paolo Bea - Santa Chiara Bianco 2020 (750ml)
Paolo Bea Santa Chiara Bianco 2020 is an expressive white wine from the revered Paolo Bea estate in Montefalco, Umbria. Representing the natural winemaking philosophy championed by Giampiero Bea and the ViniVeri movement, this is far from a conventional Italian white. It originates from the estate's organically farmed Pagliaro vineyard, featuring a unique co-planted field blend of Grechetto, Malvasia, Sauvignon Blanc, Garganega, and Chardonnay grown on limestone-clay and gravel soils.
The wine's unique character develops through traditional, minimal-intervention methods. Following manual harvest, the blend of grapes undergoes spontaneous fermentation together on their skins in stainless steel tanks for at least two weeks. This extended skin contact imparts nuanced color, robust texture, and complex flavors often associated with 'orange wine'. After pressing, the Santa Chiara ages patiently on its fine lees in stainless steel for 12 to 20 months, building further complexity without any oak influence. It is bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfur, staying true to the Bea commitment to authenticity.
The 2020 Santa Chiara often reveals a bold personality, described by importer Rosenthal Wine Merchant with notes of macerated peaches, brassy spice, white pepper, and candied citrus. Despite this expressive character, the wine possesses terrific energy and a focused structure derived from the skin tannins. A truly singular and thought-provoking Umbrian white blend.
