BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

85
Feudi del Pisciotto 2009 Carolina Marenga
Grillo (Sicilia). This Sicilian Grillo has
bright aromas of candied fruit, lemon zest and caramel.
The mouthfeel is syrupy and oily. Vias Imports. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $NA
CANNONAU DI
SARDEGNA
90
Tenuta Soletta 2007 Keramos Riserva
(Cannonau di Sardegna). There’s a glimpse
of dried herb and rosemary behind more intense aromas
of black fruit, cherry and leather. This rich wine is
concentrated and persistent, and it should pair well with
stewed meat dishes. Tricana Imports. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $42
87
Santa Maria La Palma 2006 Riserva (Cannonau
di Sardegna). Garnet-ruby in color,
this has fresh aromas of white cherry, plum, dried dill
and rosemary. The mouthfeel is simple and clean, with
fresh acidity on the close. Frederick Wildman & Sons,
Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $15
87
Sella & Mosca 2007 Riserva (Cannonau
di Sardegna). This opens with bright aromas
of wild berry, white cherry, spice, cola and dried medicinal
herb. It’s a streamlined, elegant wine, with fresh
acidity and a bitter almond finish. Palm Bay International.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA
86
Tenute Soletta 2008 Corona Majore (Cannonau
di Sardegna). This offers a raw, sharp
note of garden herb and white cherry. The natural acidity
and crispness suggests it should pair well with cheese
ravioli in a sage butter sauce. Tricana Imports. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $33
CARIGNANO DEL SULCIS
90
Cantina Santadi 2007 Rocca Rubia Riserva
(Carignano del Sulcis). This is a very interesting
wine that shows a unique bouquet of wild
berry, dried rosemary and black olive aromas. There is
elegance and balance here, with a tight, velvety finish.
Empson (USA) Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA
88
Sella & Mosca 2005 Terre Rare Riserva
(Carignano del Sulcis). Savory and sophisticated
aromas of cured meat, leather, dried fruit and
prune are elegant and nicely evolved. There’s a bright
touch of bitter almond on the finish. Palm Bay International.
—M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $NA
86
Cantina Santadi 2008 Grotta Rossa (Carignano
del Sulcis). This is an easy-drinking
wine that opens with tight aromas of wild berry, dried
rosemary and green herb. The finish has both sweet and
sour elements. Empson (USA) Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 13.5% Price: $NA
50 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | JULY 2012
ISOLA DEI NURAGHI
92
Agricola Punica 2008 Barrua (Isola dei
Nuraghi). This is a sophisticated blend of Carignano,
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and it’s always
delightful. This vintage shows intense, soft notes of
dried sage and rosemary. Kobrand. —M.L.
abv: 15% Price: $60
91
Pala 2006 S’arai (Isola dei Nuraghi). The
rich aromas of blackberry, rosemary oil, dried
sage, exotic spice and chocolate are impressive and
complex. The mouthfeel is soft, enduring, velvety and
long-lasting. Banville & Jones Wine Merchants. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA
90
Argiolas 2007 Korem (Isola dei Nuraghi).
This is a dark and sophisticated red, with an interesting
aromatic profile that includes dried rosemary,
sage, cola, blackberry, leather and spice. It’s thick and
powerful on the close and should pair well with red
meat. Winebow. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $50
90
Argiolas 2005 Turriga (Isola dei Nuraghi).
This hearty blend boasts a dark, inky color, with
bright aromas of black fruit, cola, dried rosemary, black
olive and spice. The finish is thick, concentrated and
long lasting. Winebow. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $80
90
Pala 2007 S’arai (Isola dei Nuraghi). This
blend of Cannonau, Carignano and Bovale
opens with bright, intense fruit, with notes of blackberry,
crème de cassis and pomegranate juice. The mouthfeel
is firm and structured. Banville & Jones Wine Merchants.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $46
88
Pala 2008 Essentija Bovale (Isola dei
Nuraghi). Bovale is a little-known indigenous
grape from Sardinia. This opens with savory aromas of
cured meat, chocolate, ripe fruit and prune. The close
is bold, bitter and bright. Banville & Jones Wine Merchants.
—M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA
87
Argiolas 2008 Costera Cannonau (Isola
dei Nuraghi). This pretty Cannonau-based
wine opens with ripe aromas of blackberry, tobacco and
dried spice. The mouthfeel is smooth, plush and dense.
Winebow. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $18
87
Argiolas 2007 Is Solinas (Isola dei
Nuraghi). This opens with raw notes of wild
berry and dried herb that lend it an untamed, rustic
feel. The palate is bright. Winebow. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $40
87
Pala 2009 Silenzi (Isola dei Nuraghi).
Fresh and easy, this shows bright berry aromas,
with subtle touches of forest floor and bramble. This
should pair well with barbecued pork or grilled hamburgers.
Banville & Jones Wine Merchants. —M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $NA
OTHER RED WINES
93
Girolamo Russo 2009 Feudo Nerello
Mascalese (Etna). A blend based on Nerello
Mascalese, with a tiny percentage of Nerello Cappuccio,
this boasts a bold, compelling bouquet of wild berry,
leather, tobacco and a light shading of crushed spice.
The mouthfeel is characterized by elegance, power and
determination. Panebianco. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $55
93
Girolamo Russo 2009 San Lorenzo Nerello
Mascalese (Etna). Delicate and sophisticated,
this has notes of wild berry, rosemary, crushed
stone, tobacco and spice that are delivered with slow,
beautiful intensity. The wine shows freshness, structure
and staying power. Panebianco. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $55
90
Ceuso 2008 Rosso (Sicilia). For full review
see page 9.
abv: 14.5% Price: $40
88
Sella & Mosca 2006 Tanca Farrá Cabernet
Sauvignon (Alghero). This shows aromas
of cola, dried garden herb, rosemary oil and violet.
The palate has a bright, tonic quality. Palm Bay International.
—M.L.
abv: 13% Price: $NA
88
Tenuta Rapitalà 2009 Alto Nero d’Avola
(Sicilia). The palate has a touch of green rosemary
and wild berry, with a hint of toasted almond on
the finish. It is named after the high-altitude vineyard
(located 1,300–1,700 feet above sea level) from which
the Nero d’Avola grapes were sourced. Frederick Wildman
& Sons, Ltd. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $21
DESSERT WINES
91
Cantine Florio 2008 Passito di Pantelleria.
Ripe fruit, dried apricot, candied fruit and
sweet caramel open the nose of this amber-colored dessert
wine. The wine imparts a thick, chewy mouthfeel,
with loads of apricot sweetness and honey-coated almond
on the finish. —M.L.
abv: 14.5% Price: $NA/500 ml
90
Cantine Florio 2008 Malvasia delle Lipari.
This passito dessert wine from the island
of Lipari delivers a deep amber color, with bright
aromas of resin, caramel, butterscotch, candied fruit,
chestnut and honey. The mouthfeel is rich, syrupy and
very sweet. —M.L.
abv: 14% Price: $NA/500 ml
RHÔNE
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
95
Alain Jaume et Fils 2009 Domaine Grand
Veneur Vieilles Vignes (Châteauneuf-du-
Pape). A prodigious effort, the 2009 Vieilles Vignes
from Grand Veneur includes a whopping 40% Mourvèdre
in the blend (there’s also 10% Syrah, with the bal-