Argiolas Cannonau Costera 2022

Region: Sardegna, Italy

Grape Variety: Grenache

Though today part of Italy, the island of Sardinia was a territory of the Crown of Aragon, which became part of the unified Kingdom of Spain, for centuries. This explains the proliferation of Spanish grape varieties, such as Carignan and Garnacha Tinta, planted around the regional capital of Cagliari. Cannonau is the local name for Garnacha, which grows excellently on the southern shore of the island where sunlight is plentiful. These particular Cannonau vines were planted by Antonio Argiolas in the mid-70s and deliver the variety’s characteristic power and concentration. Small amounts of two other Spanish varieties, Carignan and Graciano, are co-planted in the vineyard and used to add color and structure.

In the winery, all fruit is co-fermented in stainless steel and racked to French oak barriques, where it spends the better part of a year maturing. A portion of the wine is fermented in concrete vats to preserve freshness and primary fruit characteristics. When you open this wine, you will want to decant for up to half an hour. Once this wine has some time to open up it is subtly different than its Spanish counterparts, with notes of dried raspberry, redcurrant preserve, fig leaf, cedar, and dried herbs. Drink 2025-2030 with grilled lamb chops, marinated piquillo peppers with cheese, or grilled sausage with white beans.