Terre Rare, Carignano del Sulcis DOC

An ancient varietal from the Sardinian tradition, perhaps first planted here by the Phoenicians, carignano displays many Mediterranean characteristics of the island. Typical of the southernmost areas of the Sulcis, it comes from the coastal estate extending from Capo Teulada to the Iglesiente mountain range. Here the vines are traditionally gobelet-trained, close to the ground, and yield generous, original fruit. After fermenting on the skins, the wine is aged for an extended period, at least three years, first in small oak and then in the bottle. The color is a luminous ruby red with purple highlights when young, and the bouquet presents the nose with a variegated and impressively intense assortment of aromas that change in the glass, reminiscent of pomegranate, currants, wild blackberries and aromatic herbs, before giving way to softer, sweeter hints of fig and a final nuance of licorice. On the palate, it is warm and generous, with a smooth structure and extremely fine tannins, polished and flavorful. The long finish is reminiscent of spices and ripe fruit. 12 months in second-use French barrique. Aging is followed by 6 months of bottle aging.