Punica - Samasa Isola dei Nuraghi 2023
Price: $19.96
| Producer | Punica |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sardinia |
| Varietal | Other White Grapes |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Sku | 602655 |
| Size | 750ml |
Agricola Punica, founded in 2002 by an all-star team of winemakers, is a testament to Sardinia’s world-class potential for fine wine production. Legendary Tuscan consulting enologist Giacomo Tachis was instrumental in this vision, convinced that the island’s climate and terroir were ideal for the Carignano grape, one of Sardinia’s three historically dominant varieties. The winery, a collaboration between Cantina Sociale di Santadi, Santadi president Antonello Pilloni, and Tachis, purchased 370 acres across two vineyard sites, Barrua and Narcao, in Sardinia’s southwest region known as Sulcis Meridionale. While the vineyards fall within the DOC Carignano del Sulcis, Agricola Punica’s wines are labeled under IGT Isola dei Nuraghi, paying homage to Sardinia’s ancient stone structures that have stood for 3,500 years. Their two flagship wines, Barrua (first vintage 2002) and Montessu (first vintage 2005), embrace a Super Tuscan model, applying modern winemaking techniques to Sardinia’s ancient varietals.
One of the winery’s standout white wines is Samas, named after the Punic God of the Sun. A blend of Vermentino and Chardonnay, the grapes are hand-harvested at dawn to preserve their freshness and varietal character. A meticulous cryomaceration process prevents oxidation, while prolonged fermentation at 60˚F and 40 days on the lees enhance depth and texture. Each variety is vinified separately before being blended and aged for three months in small concrete vats, ensuring a natural stabilization process without filtration or clarification. This careful approach results in a bright, vibrant wine that reflects Sardinia’s unique terroir.
