2014 Antonio Sanguineti Cannonau di Sardegna

2014 Antonio Sanguineti Cannonau di Sardegna

SOLD OUT! The newly released 2014 Antontio Sanguineti Cannonau di Sardegna is better than last year’s version! Many of you have repeatedly asked about this wine as it was one of last year’s top sellers.

I’m pleased to announce that the new vintage has arrived, and we think it’s even better than last year’s version!

Antonio Sanguineti Cannonau di Sardegna

2014 Antonio Sanguineti Cannonau di Sardegna

Rich, ripe, luscious, and pleasure-bent Italian red!

SOLD OUT

Cannonau is Sardegna’s leading red grape, and it is noted for being powerful, rich, and packed with resveratrol, the substance that researchers say can improve heart health. We think that’s great, but we didn’t buy this because of that, we bought it because it’s an awesome wine at an awesome price. For fans of wines like the Cercius and Amido Cotes du Rhones, you’re going to love this soulful Italian red!

Tuscan-born Antonio Sanguineti is a character. When he’s not blazing through the Italian countryside at very high speeds in his Ferrari, he is busy crafting incredible wines in Tuscany and Sardinia. As his US-based importer Small Vineyards says, “the first time you try one of Antonio’s wines, you’ll realize how perfectly they match the man–bold, intelligent reds that simultaneously suggest control and grace.”

But his was not an easy road; as happens sometimes in Italian families, there was a disagreement about what to do with the Sanguineti family’s land. This happened while Antonio was still a young man and, in the end, it wound up being sold. Despite his love of wine, Antonio was left without a vineyard. As he recalls it, “I owned the knowledge, but not the land.” But the accomplished young winemaker, dubbed “Il Maestro” by his colleagues, was not to be deterred. He parlayed his wine knowledge into consulting work, and now trades his expertise for the right to select the best grapes from wonderful estates. Without the ongoing overhead of an estate, Antonio is able to produce truly outstanding wines for a modest price.

Antonio’s 2014 Cannonau di Sardegna is perhaps his most successful wine to date, and it is truly an amazing wine at a terrific price. About 1,000 cases were produced, and the wine is made with grapes from older vineyards scattered throughout the eastern portion of Sardinia.

Fermentation and aging occur with native yeasts in a mixture of stainless steel and used oak barrels to preserve purity and freshness. The resulting wine pours a lovely, medium to deep shade of purple and the nose is packed with ripe cherry, raspberry, plum, and pomegranate fruit notes along with some earthy/spicy nuances. On the palate, the wine is medium to full bodied, plump, juicy, pliant and fresh with flavors of warm red berries, peppery spice, and smoky herbs.

Possessing the perfect balance of richness and refreshing acidity, this is a wine for all seasons. I would recommend serving it with grilled meats, namely lamb marinated in olive oil, garlic, rosemary and thyme. If that doesn’t sound good to you, we can’t be friends any more!

Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville