SARDINIA Pala - Oltreluna Monica di Sardegna DOC 2022 0.75L

Designation of origin: Monica di Sardegna DOC

Color: red

Type: still

Grape variety: Monica

Alcohol content: 13%

Bottling location: Serdiana (CA) ITALY

Description:

A deep ruby ​​red with a slightly purple hue, this very clear wine presents an intense and persistent aroma with a discreet concentration of vegetal and spicy notes, including subtle nuances of licorice, plum jam, and morello cherries, complemented by elegant spicy notes of leather, black pepper, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it is dry and soft, pleasantly fresh, full-bodied, and enveloping, balanced and harmonious with elegant, velvety tannins and a long, lingering finish. Versatile and refined, it pairs well with lean appetizers, rich soups, pan-fried and grilled white meats, and medium-aged goat and pecorino cheeses. It is also perfect with Sardinian specialties such as malloreddus, culurgiones, and traditional island dishes.

There are no studies on the Monica grape variety capable of identifying its exact origins. What is certain is that it was brought to Sardinia and planted in the 15th century by the Camaldolese monks around their monasteries. Hence the name "monk's grape," "monk's grape," and then Monica. Today, Monica is perfectly integrated into Sardinia, especially in the southeastern part, its homeland, and thus part of the Pala family. Gentle like its name, yet extraordinarily complex like its homeland. The grapes come from the "Su Staini Saliu" area in Serdiana, grown using the traditional bush-trained system with 30-year-old vines on clay-limestone soils with little rock fragments. The grapes are harvested by hand in the early hours of the morning, followed by destemming and crushing, followed by a minimum five-day maceration at a controlled temperature of 20°C with selected yeasts. After malolactic fermentation, the wine ages for approximately six months in underground cement tanks and two to three months in bottle.