Wines from Sardinia, with Peter McCombie, MW

Wines from Sardinia are well known to sommeliers, but a dedicated masterclass in London is always a good surprise. Eloquently led by Peter mcCombie MW, who told us how most grapes Spanish origin: cannonau carignano vermentino. Which is not surprising in light of Spain's long rule of the island and its relative geographical proximity. Sardinia only joined Savoy in 1762, a century before Italy as a unitary state even existed. 

Vermentino di Gallura is the only docg, yet the most amazing surprises from today came from the red bottles.

Here below my tasting notes. Scores were given blind, we were only shown the labels at the end of the masterclass.

1. White Melio campidano

20yo vines

Steel on lees

Intense nose Fresh savory skin, contact produces structure. 

Score 90

2.White Ver

mentino di Sardegna 

5mos Steel on lees

3k out of 4k total hectares planted in Italy 

 Intense nose fresh complex 

Score 90

3.White Vermentino Gallura docg

Fresh complex long, texture bites, 14.5abv

35yo vines 

Score 88

4. Red 2021

Bovale grande di Spagna, carignano, rosso igt

Tends to be a little rough, old vines better 

Tannins need a little bit of time 

Score 86

5. Red

Carignano del sulcis 

Intense nose, balance, mod complex and long

Score 92

6. Red

Garnacha cannonau di Sardegna 

Full open complex and long, perfect balance 

White pepper, 

Score 95

7. Red

Mandrolisal doc

Intense perfect balance, complex and very long 

Score 96