2009 Loi, Alberto - Cannonau di Sardegna DOC Riserva Jerzu (750ml)

Alberto Loi, born in Jerzu to a family of Cannonau growers and traders, founded this estate around 1950. Today his sons and grandsons run it in Cardedu, in Ogliastra, the wild, mountainous east coast of Sardinia that’s also the heartland of Cannonau. Loi’s wines carry the Jerzu sub-zone designation, a place Vinous’s Ian D’Agata calls a real grand cru for the grape. True to tradition, Loi releases its Cannonau only after long aging in large oak barrels, making these some of the most authentic expressions on the island. At 17 years old, this Riserva is a rare chance to taste mature Cannonau (Sardinia’s Grenache): dried cherry, plum and fig with leather, tobacco, sweet spice and wild Mediterranean herbs, on a warm, mellow palate with silky, resolved tannins. Pair with roast lamb or suckling pig, wild boar ragù or aged pecorino sardo.