Unusual, crisp and clean high-altitude Cannonau wine from Mandrolisai in the mountains of Sardinia. Vibrant flavours of pomegranate, pepper and eucalyptus.

“Manca” is a refreshing departure from the typical dark Cannonau packed with baked black fruits. Instead, “Manca” offers a sharp and clean version of this powerful wine, bursting with flavours of red forest fruits, spices and herbs.

What makes it so different? Grapes for “Manca” are grown at an altitude of 680 metres, near Sorgono. This plot of land is hidden in the mountains just 5 km from the geographic centre of Sardinia, in the area known as Mandrolisai. At such altitude, the vineyard is always cooled by fresh breezes. Days are warm and sunny but nights are chilly, helping grapes to develop more aromatic complexity while preserving acidity. As a result, winemakers can produce flavourful, age-worthy wines.

Winemaking

Grapes are harvested by hand at the beginning of October. After fermentation, the wine spends one year in small, 220-litre used French oak barriques. This allows it to develop with some oxidative influence, without being overpowered by the strong flavours and tannins you’d get from new oak.

Tasting Notes

Medium garnet colour. The palate starts off with sharp and clean aromas of fresh red fruits, such as pomegranate, cranberry and red cherry. Fresh herbal aromas of eucalyptus and thyme balance the long peppery finish. While “Manca” is fresh, it’s also a full-bodied, complex and very powerful wine, with joyful tannins and a respectable level of alcohol.

Awards

The WineHunter (Merano Wine Festival) – Gold (2018 vintage) | Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 – Bronze Medal (2018 vintage) | Gambero Rosso (I Vini Italiani) – Two Glasses (2017 vintage) | Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 – Silver Medal (2016 vintage)