Terre Brune - Cantina di Santadi - 2019

150 cl

James Suckling: 94 points

Alcohol content: 15% vol.

Grape varieties: 100% Carignano

Vinification:

Matured for two years in French barriques, followed by one year in the bottle.

Tasting note:

Terre Brune is a 100%iger Carignano from Cantina Santadi with a seductive balance and fruitiness and is one of Sardinia's best reds every year. Matured in barriques, it shows fresh but ripe fruit on the nose with a slight hint of cocoa. On the palate, it has a beautiful depth with present tannins. An exemplary wine vinified with love and full of regional typicity.

The Santadi Winery is a renowned Wine-growing co-operative in south-western Sardinia. It is regarded internationally as the gold standard for top-quality Mediterranean wines and is one of the most successful wineries in the whole of Italy.

Region: The winery is situated in the Sulcis region in the far south-west of Sardinia (Santadi).

Soils & Climate: The vines are situated not far from the sand dunes of Porto Pino, on sandy loam soils. The climate is hot and Mediterranean, with the Mistral wind providing a cooling, refreshing breeze.Special feature: Around 150 hectares of ungrafted vines, which have not been affected by phylloxera, are cultivated.

Co-operative: The winery is a cooperative comprising around 150–300 smallholders who cultivate some 500–550 hectares.

Key figures: Antonello Pilloni led the co-operative to the top from the 1970s onwards. The legendary oenologist Giacomo Tachis played a decisive role in shaping its style from the 1980s onwards.

Focus: The focus is on indigenous grape varieties, primarily Carignano, complemented by Cannonau, Vermentino and Nuragus.

Red wines: The wines (such as the flagship Terre Brune or Rocca Rubia) are intense, full-bodied, velvety and characterised by aromas of dark fruit and Mediterranean herbs.

White wines: These wines are fresh, aromatic and often have mineral and salty notes.