2019 Agricola Punica Samas Isola dei Nuraghi IGT Italy (Other)

2019 Agricola Punica Samas Isola dei Nuraghi IGT

93 DEC

Featured Review

Wonderful wildflower bouquet with peachy and grapey notes. Vivacious, bright, tingling and full of flavour. Young and delicious, it dances on the palate. One of the best Vermentino blends I’ve tried. Drinking Window 2020 - 2024 Decanter

Decanter | 93 DEC

Apricots, dried apples, waxed lemons, chamomile and herbs on the nose. It’s medium-to full-bodied with bright, textured layers. Some yoghurt notes on the dense, flavorful finish. Drink now. Screw cap.

James Suckling | 92 JS

A zesty white, with a lovely floral overtone of jasmine and honeysuckle. This is light-bodied and juicy, offering flavors of pineapple and pink grapefruit sorbet. Vermentino and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2023. 8,333 cases made, 600 cases imported.

Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Type of Wine	Italy (Other) : There are dozens of grape varietals grown in Italy so no wonder they produce such a broad range of most exquisite wines. Some of the most cultivated red varieties are Nebbiolo, Aglianico, Sangiovese, and Barbera, while Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are also popular. Among whites, you're likely to find Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano, or Vernaccia varietals.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	Italy : Italy is renowned as one of the world’s greatest gastronomic havens; from certified Prosciutto di Parma to the sea-side seafood eateries on the island of Sicily. However, this epicurean experience could not possibly be as hedonistic without the ethereal combination of the country’s plethora of fine wines. It seems unfair that a nation should be able to boast, both, some of the world’s greatest cuisine as well as its greatest wines. Italian wine is one of the most sought after in the world, and has become the second most produced in the world, behind only France. Stretching an impressive 736 miles from northern Italy to the peninsula’s southern tip, the country’s geography generates an enormous array of topography, climate and soil structure. This is an extremely important quality of its winegrowing and making industry which lays claim to nearly 550 different grape varietals, which all desire their own necessities, in terms of terroir and climate. The still red wines of Italy truly characterize the nation’s vast and expansive terroir; Nebbiolo dominates Piedmont, where Barolo and Barbaresco reign king and queen of the region’s production. Hailing from Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany, the rockstar Sangiovese grape has become synonymous with greatness. Vin Santo sweet wines have taken on a mighty feat of competing with the glorious wines of Sauternes, and of course, Prosecco. Prosecco, located in Trieste (northeast Italy) and its creation of luxuriously effervescent styles of wine has become Italy’s answer to Champagne. The Glera grape variety, which has become synonymous with the name Prosecco, is the main ingredient and is beloved in the appellation where the village of Prosecco’s name has become world renowned. The blurred boundary between Italy and the countries of Slovenia and Austria, where German influence still resonates through Friuli wines. The prevalence of Riesling and other such grape varietals is high in this region and have become extremely popular on today’s market. With nearly 702,000 hectares of grapevines covering the massive and diverse landscape, Italy’s annual average of 48.3 million hectoliters of wine production is second only to France in terms of volume and Spain in terms of hectares of vines. The country is vast and overwhelming when it comes to the culinary arts, but perhaps even this is overshadowed by its production of some of the world’s most sought after wines, whether the omnipresent Chianti to the highly collectible and sought after Amarone della Valpolicalla.
Region	Sardinia : With a rugged, mountainous inland and gorgeous sandy beaches, safely secluded on the Mediterranean sea lies Sardinia. This beautiful island is known and loved for different reasons, including its position, culture, nature, and many more. For sommeliers, though closely intertwined with other mentioned aspects, viticulture stands out. Italy needs no introduction when it comes to its superior wines. However, the geographical distance between this island and Italian mainland illustrates well the difference in their winemaking. The typically Italian grape varieties that one thinks of first are very rarely found on this island, the most prominent types of which being Vermentino and Malvasia. Instead, Sardinia is known for growing some nearly exclusive vines like Nasco, Monica, Nuragus, Semidano, Torbatto and Niederra. Other more internationally recognized grapes grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Grenache. Most of the wine here is consumed locally, the still whites featuring herbaceous, tropical, flinty notes and the reds known for their gentle tannins and earthy overtones. Sardinia's international recognition is on the upswing, though, as this island shows some impressive potential for winemaking in the future. If you're looking to explore the most enigmatic parts of Italian winemaking, a bottle from Sardinia will deliver more than you could have possibly imagined.