2006 Tenute Soletta, Corona Majore, Cannonau di Sardegna

Sardinia has historically been different from the rest of Italy.  It has been governed by Carthage, Rome, Byzantines, Arabs, and Catalans.  In 1479 Ferdinan II of Aragon married Isabel of Castile and the Kingdom of Sardinia became Spanish.  The 250 years of Spanish rule left a legacy of using Spanish grapes.  Grenache was brought to Sardinia and is known as Cannonau in Italian.

Sardegna, Giovani Cassini, Rome 1792

Tenute Soletta is a wine cooperative founded by Umberto Soletta in 1996.  He has meticulously reclaimed land for the vineyards and established a clean, modern winery full of stainless steel and French oak.  Corona Major is named after the region in the northern tip of the Sassari province.  Sassari may be found in the upper, left-hand corner of the map.  The Cannonau vineyards are grown at an altitude of 400 meters on sandy, chalky soil.  The vines are harvested in October and the wine is aged for 18 months.  It is 13.5% alcohol and is available for $26 at MacArthur’s.

2006 Tenute Soletta, Corona Majore, Cannonau di Sardegna
This wine is a bright, vibrant ruby color.  The light nose has ripe, sweet red fruit and sweet spices.  With air lifted, gritty blue fruit aromas develop.  There are waves of tart red fruit in this medium bodied wine.  The sweet spices lift up and out of the mouth.  It is a modern style of wine with lots of ripe, red, herbed fruit, good aromas, and an almost spicy character.  *** Now-2017.