Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna 2001 Riserva

Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna 2001 Riserva Italy, Sardinia ($12)

Picked this one up at the most diverse liquor store in my neighborhood. I have found other $12 Italian bottles here that have became regulars in my rotation. At first glance the label looked serious enough, it said reserve on it, and I could pick up that it was from Sardinia, Italy. It even said to open an hour before serving. Something totally different I assumed since I never had Cannonau grapes or anything from Sardinia for that matter.

Turns out i was half right. It's true it would be my first taste of a Sardinia wine but it turns out that Cannonau is just the Italian version of Grenache. This wine had three years in oak and the importer boasts it can sustain a decade or more of aging. I didn't wait a decade. Intense red color, with violets on the nose. Nice blend of cherry and plum on the palate. Smooth full texture that was quite pleasing. Overall a good wine, not a best buy though at $12. An interesting take on Grenache, though I can't say that it's my favorite grape. My grade: B