Shardana 2012
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Wine
Spectator
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Very intense, dark, deep ruby red in color. The ample and complex nose of black cherry fruit, leather and game is laced with subtle spice, vanilla, black pepper, and dried flowers notes. The palate shows flavors of ripe cherries, as well as well-integrated oak and spices. Smooth, silky texture and layered flavors.
Blend: 85% Carignano, 15% Shiraz
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A linear and tight red with orange peel and dark berry character. Hints of sandalwood. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a flavorful finish. Delicious.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 85% old-vine Carignano and 15% Syrah, the 2012 Shardana is a well-made wine that was born as a vinous joint venture between Cantina Santadi and its importer Empson USA. It shows a dark and richly saturated appearance, and the wine opens to penetrating aromas of black fruit, spice, tar, licorice and savory tobacco. Perhaps the bouquet in this warm vintage is not as exceedingly sharp or focused as previous editions. The finish is structured, concentrated and powerful.
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Wine Spectator
Fragrant with anise and ripe raspberry, floral and smoke notes, this medium-bodied red is well-balanced and bright, with a lightly chewy, lingering finish. Carignano with Syrah. Drink now through 2023.
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Wine &
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Robert
Parker
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
Hailed for centuries as a Mediterranean vine-growing paradise, multiple cultures over many centuries have ruled the large island of Sardinia. Set in the middle of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Phonoecians, Ancient Rome, and subsequently the Byzantines, Arabs and Catalans have all staked a claim on the island at some point in history. Along the way, these inhabitants transported many of their homeland’s prized vines and today Sardinia’s modern-day indigenous grape varieties claim multiple origins. Sardinia’s most important red grapes—namely Cannonau (a synonym for Grenache) and Carignan—are actually of Spanish origin.
Vermentino, a prolific Mediterranean variety, is the island’s star white. Vermentino has a stronghold the Languedoc region of France as well as Italy’s western and coastal regions, namely Liguria (where it is called Pigato), Piedmont (where it is called Favorita) and in Tuscany, where it goes by the name, Vermentino. The best Vermentino, in arguably all of the Mediterranean, grows in Sardinia's northeastern region of Gallura where its vines struggle to dig roots deep down into north-facing slopes of granitic soils. These Vermentino vines produce highly aromatic, full and concentrated whites of unparalleled balance.
Today aside from its dedication to viticulture, Sardinia remains committed to maintaining its natural farmlands, bucolic plains of grazing sheep and perhaps most of all, its sandy, sunny, Mediterranean beaches.