Cardedu Monica di Sardegna Praja 2020

Sergio Loi is a 4th generation traditional Sardinian producer, whose family winery from the early 90s has always practiced no chemical farming and minimum intervention in the cellar. The Cardedu [car-DAY-do] vineyards are located on the island’s Southeast, where soils are crumbling granite near the coast, a sparsely-populated area that feels lost in time.

This pretty baby here is Sergio's Monica -- named not after a daughter but a grape indigenous to Sardinia, from vineyards in the most mountainous and least populated part of the island.  Here the vineyards are planted near cliffs that go straight down to the Mediterranean and capture the salty sea breeze.  Dry and earthy, with dusty red fruit, figs and a touch of mint and sage, the 'Praja' takes well to slight chill, but is far from glou glou.  Chewy tannins add rusticity, charm and a seductively bitter element, and mellow tannins/acid make it a very versatile crowd-pleaser.