ABOUT: On the parched Italian island of Sardegna nests 33 hectares of Dettori vineyards, long considered Italian Demeter certified biodynamic royalty. Winemaker Alessandro Dettori does things his way, the ancient way, without apology, and the wines echo this. These are naturally made wines from the red grape Cannonau (Grenache) and white grape Vermentino with no added yeasts, enzymes, no fining and filtering and the sulphur is kept to an absolute minimum. They don’t even control the temperature of their ferments, which is so old school that most winemakers wouldn’t consider it, but it works for Dettori. The wines are generally high in alcohol, common in Sardegna, but again, Dettori isn’t concerned with your hang ups about high alcohol percentage. They are labeled IGT Romangia instead of the island-encompassing DOC Cannonau di Sardegna…again, the DOC and their rules can suck it, Dettori does their own thing. This is hot Mediterranean wine making at its finest and we find the wines exciting, delicious and alive. Once opened they evolve and reward the drinker who values such a thing.

TASTE: Concentrated and intense aromas and flavors of cherries, strawberries, dark chocolate, rose, black tea, mint, cigar, and bits of garrigue which is so common with wines from the southern Rhone. Richly textured, hinting at port but not quite there. Full bodied with medium acidity and a medium high amount of fine tannin. The alcohol is high yet balanced and in harmony with itself. You could decant this if you chose to, but we prefer to let it sit uninterrupted a glass for a minute before consuming. The evolution from the first to the last glass is fascinating and a journey well explored.

PAIR: Roasted mushrooms with balsamic, braised cannellini beans with kale, oven baked stuffed eggplant, caponata and herbed lentil minestrone.

Cannonau

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Tenute Dettori Romangia Tuderi Rosso 2016