Stella & Mosca’s Cannonau di
Sardegna
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| Barriques |
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC Vendemmia*
2008, 13.5%, €11.95 (Karwig), 3.5 stars.
This
island wine held my interest from start to finish. Colour is a weakish medium
red but this is Grenache with muscle: mouth filling, juicy, fruity, spicy,
straight-up. A lovely lively wine made from the Cannonau grape, a cousin or
clone of Garnacha. I’m deliberately using the Garnacha here as it was the
Spanish who planted up the island many
moons ago.
This
rugged island version is some distance from the smooth and polite Grenache you
find on the Rhone and none the worse for
that. Variety is the spice of life and this Sardinian effort underlines it.
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Cannonau di Sardegna DOC Riserva 2007,
14%, €15.25 (Karwig)
Noah, it is said, used
a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night. Garrnet is the
colour of this wine and I wouldn’t mind having more of this in the dark nights to
come.
It is a while since I
smelled violets so I can't confirm the label’s description of the bouquet
except to say it is quite a pleasant one. But the mega pleasure comes when the
wine hits the palate. It is like velvet.
The basic Cannonau
above may be Grenache with muscle; this Riserva doesn't lack muscle but let us
say that it is extremely well toned, supple and subtle, positively smooth and altogether
very attractive.
It is a beautiful
mouthful, the finish long and delicious and there are subtle spices from start
to end. One to note, for sure.
·
Vendemmia = Harvest or
vintage.
·
The Cannonau, with a
big load of flavanoids, may be good for your health. Check it out here.
