​Carignano del Sulcis Superiore "Terre Brune" Santadi

For years, the Carignano del Sulcis Superiore "Terre Brune" of Cantina Santadi has been considered one of the best representatives of Sardinian enology, well known at national and international level. Drinking it is a real pleasure and, in these days, we have not missed the opportunity. Here is our review of the 2016 vintage.

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Founded on 24 October 1960 by a group of grape producers from Santadi, the winery began to sell unbottled wine from grapes grown in its vineyards. From the second half of the Seventies, also thanks to the collaboration of the internationally renowned enologist Giacomo Tachis, a process of expansion, innovation and modernization of the winery was started and the production of bottled wine began. In the following years, a barriques room, a room for bottling wine, a warehouse for packaging was built, the body of the original cellar was renovated and huge investments were made in the equipment for wine making. The aim was to produce local wines of high quality. A goal that has been widely achieved, so much so that the brand of Santadi wines is increasingly known and widespread worldwide.

Today the Santadi winery is a giant of Sardinian enology, equipped with the most modern winemaking technologies and an innovative laboratory for analysis to take care of every detail of the winemaking process.

The winery’s vineyards cover about 500 hectares in the municipalities of Santadi, Villaperuccio, Nuxis, Giba, Piscinas, Masainas, Sant'Anna Arresi, Perdaxius and Tratalias, all included in the Sulcis region. It is located in south-western Sardinia, in the oldest geological area of Sardinia, characterized by a great heritage of biodiversity, among hills, flat areas, cliffs, beaches and wooded areas.

The climate is sub-tropical, but the constant sea breeze contributes, in a decisive way, to mitigate the temperature, allowing the practice of quality viticulture. The soils are sandy. The main grape variety is Carignano, but the winery also cultivates other vines: Monica, Sangiovese, Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Vermentino, Nuragus, Chardonnay and Nasco.

The top wine of Cantina Santadi is Carignano del Sulcis Superiore "Terre Brune", an absolute excellence of Sardinian enology, with many awards obtained by international critics. This wine is made from Carignano grapes (95%), with a minimum percentage of grapes of the Bovaleddu vine (5%), an autochthonous black berried variety.

The alcoholic fermentation with maceration is about 15 days and is carried out in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation follows, with aging in French oak barrels for 16-18 months at most and aging of 12 months in bottle.

Let’s taste the 2016 vintage.

Carignano del Sulcis D.O.C. Superiore "Terre Brune" Santadi 2016 has an intense ruby red color tending to garnet. The bouquet of aromas is very rich and complex: there are hints of plum and blueberry, dried fruit and marasche, with notes of sweet spices and hints of tobacco and chocolate. The palate is full and dry, it has great structure (15% vol.), it is very velvety and soft, with caressing tannins of extraordinary elegance. The taste-olfactory effect is super refined. The finish is persistent and pleasantly fruity.

For strength and power, it is a wine for red meat dishes, tasty and important, or for mature cheeses. We also recommend a sip away from meals to appreciate its extreme complexity and its many nuances.