Cannonau di Sardegna DOC - Zojosu - Masone Mannu 2021

Zojosu is the expression of a single vineyard recently planted in the Monti countryside, 150 meters above sea level , ungrafted and with a yield of forty quintals per hectare , facing south-east. Monti 's is a particularly ideal terroir not only for the production of white wines, but also red wines, both due to the nature of the soil, made up of granite sand , capable of giving the wines freshness and great minerality , and due to the excellent excursions thermals between day and night, at the basis of the great aromatic expression of the wines of this part of Sardinia. Cannonau is a late cultivar: the harvest is carried out manually during the first ten days of October and the bunches, placed in small boxes, are quickly transported to the cellar, where they are destemmed and pressed and the must is sent for alcoholic vinification in stainless steel containers without temperature control , in contact with the macerating pomace for fifteen to twenty days , during which frequent punching down of the mass takes place . Once alcoholic fermentation is completed – unlike Zurria and Entu , Zojosu does not undergo malolactic fermentation – the wine matures in stainless steel containers for sixteen months , before bottling and aging in glass for two months.

Zojosu appears in the ruby red glass with garnet reflections , typical of Cannonau, which is a cultivar that does not present a great chromatic expression; however, the tone is lively, slightly translucent , and the wine has a good consistency.

On the nose Zojosu expresses aromas of carnation and red fruits such as morello cherry and plum , and balsamic memories of Mediterranean scrub .

In the mouth it is a dry and structured wine, a full body and good softness animated by freshness and decisive flavor and by a fine and vibrant tannin : the taste is fine and of good persistence.

Zojosu is a medium-bodied red with an undeniable personality , which can also be savored as an aperitif , perhaps accompanying it with flakes of Pecorino di Sardegna PDO of good maturation and fatness ; or, it can give its best at the table if combined with strong and structured first courses such as pici with Cinta Senese ragoût , or second courses such as baked pork shank with a side of potatoes !