Santadi Carignano Riserva Rocca Rubia

Propagation of the Carignano reflects the close bond which links the wine-producing countries of the Mediterranean basin: we come across it in Spain under the name of Cariñena, Carignan in France, and in Italy it's particularly well-rooted in Sardinia and the Sulcis region. Specifically in the Sulcis, the predominately sandy texture of the soils allowed the vineyards to survive the phylloxera plague; proof of this is that the Santadi cooperative makes its Santadi Carignano del Sulcis Reserva Rocca Rubia entirely from grapes of ungrafted vineyards (grown on their own rootstock).

It's amazing to think that soils as poor as those of the Sulcis can bring to life a wine with such a subtle aroma, so generous and welcoming. Rocca Rubia appears a dense garnet colour and offers on the nose a panoply of fruit fragrances, with slight undertones of spices and fine wood. This subtlety is confirmed on the palate: velvety but with firm tannins, fresh, flavoursome and very pleasant. A wine with plenty of body, which manages to balance out its notable alcohol content most successfully.