One of the great experiences in wine is the taste of Grenache (known on the island of Sardinia as Cannonau) grown in sandy soils. This example from rising star Antonella Corda is one of the best around. Corda’s flagship Cannonau is vinified on indigenous yeasts in stainless steel and aged in a mix of steel tank and used French oak barrels. It’s a rare example of a varietal Grenache with real tension to complement its velvet-smooth texture.

Corda’s vineyards are in Serdiana, toward the southern end of Sardinia, which is one of the prime terroirs for the Cannonau grape. The climate is arid and Mediterranean, the soils are a mix of sand, silt, and limestone marl in an old riverbed. This edition of her flagship red shines a deep garnet red with pink and orange reflections, greeting you with aromas of wild strawberries, cherries, raspberries, rose petals, orange peel, sandalwood, wild herbs, scrub-brush, and leather. Medium to medium-plus in body and boasting a soft, caressing texture, it is ready to enjoy now and over the next few years, its bright acid lending it a crisp and refreshing finish after a luscious glide across the palate.