Argiolas Cannonau di Sardegna Costera 750 ML

Argiolas is the foremost wine estate on the island of Sardinia producing archetypal wines from native varietals. The winery was founded in 1938 by Antonio Argiolas and was the first on the island to pursue quality over quantity. Today, the Argiolas family is recognized as Sardinia’s leading producer of wine. Costera, a name referring to hills, is made from Cannonau (Garnacha or Grenache). It is the workhorse red grape of Sardinia where it is likely to have arrived centuries ago from Spain, although an alternative theory suggests that Cannonau originated in Sardinia. In either case, Cannonau is well-adapted to the warm Sardinian climate and gives a deeply-colored, full-bodied red wine. Tasting Notes - Costera shows the typicity of the Cannonau grape with flavors of very ripe strawberries, black cherries, herbs, and spices. The warmth and intense sunlight of southern Sardinia can be seen and felt in the wine with unexpectedly deep color and fullness on the palate. French oak barriques provide rounded tannins and flavors of vanilla. Food Pairing - Meat cooked over an open flame is an artform in Sardinia and specialties such as spit-roasted suckling pig or lamb seem perfect for the rich and complex flavors of Cannonau. Varietal composition - 90% Cannonau, 5% Bovale Sardo, 5% Carignano Fermentation container - Stainless steel tanks Age of Aging Container - Two years (Barriques) Length of alcoholic fermentation - 3-4 weeks days Fermentation temperature - 73 °F Maceration technique - Cold Soak Maceration and Racking Maceration length - 2 days cool maceration prior to 3-4 week fermentation Malolactic fermentation - Yes Type of aging container - Barriques and Cement vats Length of bottle aging - 1 month Size of aging container - 225 L (Barriques) Type of oak - French Length of aging before bottling - 8-10 months (Barriques) and 5 months (Cement vats)