Alberto Loi, Cannonau de Sardegna, ‘Sa Mola’, Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia claims to be the original home of Garnacha (aka Grenache) where it is known as Cannonau and produces a rather more structured and perhaps serious, savoury style of wine, crying out for some salty, mature cheese or full-on salami. This one’s grown by the fourth generation of the Loi family on their vineyards around Cardedu in the hills of central Sardinia but just a few minutes from the coast. The proximity of the sea makes a real difference to the vineyards, tempering the heat of summer and promoting air flow through the vineyards. Aged in older oak, this wine has great spice from the fruit, developed tannin, intense, complex and floral. Drink now or keep happily for a couple of years.