The 2012 Sagrantino Montefalco Passito (packaged in a small 375-milliliter bottle) is a blend of fruit that has dried on the vine and fruit that has been left to dry on racks for two months. The fruit is fermented in stainless steel with 14 days of skin maceration, followed by 36 months of barrique aging. The wine opens to an inky dark appearance and shows brooding aromas of black fruit, prune and spice. Sagrantino is a grape with high tannins and color concentration. It's a little strange to taste that sweetness contrasted against the wine's firmness and power. Sagrantino Passito is a traditional wine made locally in this part of Umbria. I often imagine that dark chocolate would make the best pairing partner. A mere 2,390 bottles were made.

The 2008 Sagrantino Passito di Montefalco opens with an impenetrable dark color and jagged layers of bramble, forest floor, raw fruit and prune. The natural sweetness of the wine shapes a long velvety feel. Sweet wines made from air-dried Sagrantino grapes are difficult to pair. Rich chocolate-based desserts are one route you could take. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020. Importer: Vin Divino; www.vindivino.com