Agricola Punica
(Sassicaia) Barrua Isola dei Nuraghi 2020
(Sardinia, Italy) - [VM 94+] [JS 93] [WS 93]

About the Winery:
Agricola Punica is a prominent wine producer located in the Sulcis region of Sardinia, Italy. It was founded in 2002 as a joint venture between the Sardinian winery Cantina di Santadi and the famous Tenuta San Guido Group (maker of Sassicaia), and legendary Tuscan winemaker, Giacomo Tachis. It was the latter who thought of Sardinia and convinced everyone that they could produce a fantastic wine from grapes grown in Sulcis. In 2002, Agricola Punica acquired a company consisting of two estates, Barrua and Narcao, located in southwestern Sardinia in an area known as Basso Sulcis. The winery is known for producing high-quality wines, particularly red wines, using both local and international grape varieties.

About this Wine:
Barrua is a red wine with the I.G.T. Appelation of Isola dei Nuraghi. Primarily made from the Carignano grape, a local Sardinian variety, typically 85%, it also includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, typically 10% and 5% respectively.

Notes from the Winemaker:
The must ferments with the skins at a temperature between 25° and 28°C in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for a period of about 15 days. It is periodically pumped over to facilitate the extraction of the compounds present in the skins. Malolactic fermentation confers smoothness to the wine, which is then aged in French oak barrels for approximately 18 months. It then rests in glass for at least 6 months.

Organoleptic characteristics
Technical notes: the quality of the red Sulcitane grapes, not only in terms of color, but also for the smoothness of its soluble compounds - from the tannins to the consistently low and elegant acidity and the smoothness of its main components. Its polyphenolic apparel is of a distinguishably sweet, extremely delicate, round tannin weave chromatically embroidered with refined anthocyanins.

Color: lively, deep ruby-red.

Perfume: complex scent of ripe red fruit (mainly black cherry), spices, notes of licorice and hints of myrtle.

Flavor: an elegant wine that shows an impeccable workmanship; notes of sage and myrtle with aromas of ripe red fruits and pepper in a persistent and harmonious finish.

Ratings & Reviews

94+ Points - Vinous Media:
"Dark as night, the 2020 Isola dei Nuraghi Barrua smolders with a beguiling bouquet of sweet spice and pipe tobacco that gives way to plum sauce, grilled herbs and gravel dust. This is pure elegance. It's velvety in feel with ripe red and black fruit tones that smooth over the palate as tension builds. Hints of blood orange and dark chocolate amass toward the close. Notes of fresh coffee grinds mingle with stony mineral tones and fine-grained tannins as the 2020 tapers off long, potent and structured. While more approachable than the typical Barrua at this age, the 2020 still possesses exceptional balance and complexity. Give it another year or two to blossom. (Drink between 2026-2032)" - Eric Guido (Apr 2025)

93 Points - James Suckling:
"Ripe dark berries, dried flowers and spices on the nose. Rich and concentrated, with a full body and creamy, supple tannins. Broad and mouth-filling with a succulent finish. Drink or hold." (May 2024)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
A fragrant version, with hints of bay leaf, ground coffee, vanilla and woodsy spices, this fresh red offers a pure, dark core of black currant and black raspberry fruit. Shows minerally accents of iron and smoke. Structured but well-knit and not overly weighty, with a touch of chewy tannins firming the lasting finish. Carignano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2034. 1,000 cases imported." - Alison Napjus (Dec 2024)