I tasted bottle 562 of only 999 made. The 2008 Montefalco Sagrantino Spinning Beauty is one of the most complete and ambitious expressions of the Sagrantino grape I have yet to taste. Paying homage to the Caprai family background in Umbrian cashmere and textiles, Spinning Beauty is indeed an elaborate embroidery of flavors and complex aromas. There are some tertiary tones here of licorice, smoke and campfire ash, but the wine's primary fruit is intact with dried blackberry and sweet plum. Perhaps the wine's spice component—with clove, nutmeg and saffron—is the most difficult to pin down and describe. There is a lot to contemplate and admire here. - Monica Larner