Arnaldo Caprai started making wine in 1971, when he bought forty-two hectares in Montefalco, in Umbria. Today the estate covers over 150 hectares. His son Marco took over in 1986, and the winery describes that as a turning point for winemaking in the area.
Sagrantino is the grape the place is built around. Sangiovese, Merlot and Pinot Noir make up the rest of the reds, and Grechetto, Chardonnay and Sauvignon fill out the whites. The Sagrantino wines spend at least 22 months in French oak barriques. For the premium bottlings the winery uses a method it calls Vinification Intégrale, with the barrique ageing coming after selection. Michel Rolland consults on the winemaking.
The best-known bottle is Sagrantino 25 Anni, first made with the 1993 vintage to mark the winery's 25th anniversary. Robert Parker has given the winery a 97/100 score, and Gambero Rosso named it Cantina dell'anno.
Not tasted yet
I haven't reviewed a wine from Arnaldo Caprai yet. They're on my Top 100 list, which is built from awards.