Cardedu "Nùo" Vermentino di Sardegna 2021

FROM PORTOVINO

THE WINE: A savoury and light white wine: sea salt, sage, basil, rosemary, cedar, and a foundation of chalky stone fruits. Spaghetti alla Bottarga or alla anything-ocean-mare; grilled shrimp with rosemary sprigs as skewer; a healthy chunk of Pecorino Sardo. With vegetables, it’s becomes the special sauce.

THE PRODUCER: Sergio Loi is a 4th generation traditional Sardinian producer, whose family winery from the early 900s has always practiced no chemical farming and minimum intervention in the cellar. The Cardedu [car-DAY-do] vineyards are located on the island’s sparsely populated Southeast, on crumbling granite soils near the coast, and schist in the ragged-dry hills and cliffs around Jerzu. The local Monica grape is fermented with native yeasts in cavernous cement tanks under the house. A zingy light bodied red wine. Think spicy-underbrush, herbal notes, and just a touch of fruit. Toasted fregola pasta with small clams, canned sardines, meaty olives. Good with a slight chill.