wUst Fine Wine Imports
wines U should try!
Janna e Mare
Janna e Mare is small winery on the northwest shore of Sardinia and there are very interesting saline notes in the wines from the sea air that is always in the vineyards. The name itself means "door of the sea" in a Sardinian dialect. My perspective is that the vineyard locations open the door to very expressive wines!
The vineyards are located just a few miles from Alghero, in a very sunny corner of Sardinia and the sea air also maintains a cooling effect on the vineyards which promotes very fresh tasting wines. The winery was founded in 2016 by three oenologists who heard about that some very high quality vineyards were now available due to a very well-respected grape grower in the area planning his retirement. The oenologists jumped on that opportunity and have created remarkable and terroir driven wines.
My initial selections are their Vermentino and two reds, Monica and Cannonau. Monica a very rare Sardinian grape with a light and elegant expression but with very interesting dark fruit notes. Cannonau may sound equally exotic but it is actually the Sardinian name for Grenache, although with the vineyard location in sandy seaside soils that are loaded with minerals, the wine is a particularly interesting expression of Grenache. Other very interesting local grapes that I hope to add in the future are the white Torbato and the two reds of Bovale and Cagnulari.
The Wines
Vermentino di Sardegna DOC 2022
Aromas include white flowers, citrus blossoms, honeysuckle, jasmine, and white grapefruit. Flavors include white grapefruit, honeydew melon, and white peach. There is a medium body, good balance and acidity, and a refreshing minerally finish.
Food pairings would include sole, seabass, crab, clams, calamari, seafood salads, veal, pork, chicken, grilled sausages, ight pasta dishes, Asian pork, chicken, seafood, and noodle dishes, Asian vegetable salads, Mexican chicken and seafood dishes, chile verde, chile relleno, and green salads.
Monica di Sardegna DOC 2022
Aromas include blackberries, dark cherries, and boysenberries. Flavors include blackberries, dark cherries, boysenberries, and blueberries. There is a medium body, perfect balance and acidity, and a very saturated medium finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, short ribs, beef stew, rack of lamb, veal, pork, chicken, duck, shrimp, salmon, tuna, swordfish, clams, mussels, seafood pasta and soups, pasta with tomato and meat sauces, baked pasta dishes, creamy pasta dishes, Asian beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, Mexican pork and chicken dishes, enchiladas, tacos, tostadas, beans and rice, charcuterie, and soft, medium, and creamy cheeses.
Cannonau di Sardegna DOC 2022
Cannonau is the name in Sardinia for Grenache although the mineral rich soils of Sardinia do produce a unique and very expressive version of Grenache. Aromas include dark cherries, dark plums, boysenberries, blueberries, and hints of apricots and strawberries. Flavors include blackberries, boysenberries, dark cherries, and blueberries. There is a medium body, good balance and acidity, and a long medium finish.
Food pairings would include Filet Mignon, New York Steak, Roast Beef, short ribs, beef stew, lamb chops and roast lamb, veal chops, veal stew, pork chops, pork tenderloin, BBQ ribs, wild boar, grilled chicken, coq au vin, cassoulet, jambalaya, grilled sausages, shrimp, salmon, clams, mussels, calamari, paella, Asian and Mexican beef, pork, and chicken dishes, lamb curries, tamales, chile relleno, pork verde, enchiladas, chile verde, tacos, charcuterie, and mild, medium, and creamy cheeses.
