Mora & Memo Cannonau di Sardegna ‘Nau’ 2018

Inflation seems to have hit CDP more than even top-flight Bordeaux. Wines I used to recommend priced in the $30s are now in the $60s. The occasional splurge for Hommage a Jacques Perrin (I just looked into that) is going for $400! CDP in the $20s, well, those don’t even exist any more. 

So in my pursuit to bring Grenache back down to reality, I had to get off the beaten trail. My pursuit led me off the coast of Italy to the large island of Sardinia. Here the Grenache grows in arid, sandy soil that forces the roots deep into the soil for resources, naturally keeping yields tiny and flavors concentrated. Then – just like the more westerly end of CDP, those vines find deep layers of limestone adding refreshing minerality.

The 2018 Mora & Memo “Nau” Cannonau 2018 is drawn from a single 30-year-old parcel on the family-owned estate. Big and brash – just like CDP can be in warmer vintages – Mora & Memo’s Cannonau (Italian for Grenache) is outstanding. Perfectly balanced with luscious red fruits, the only thing better is the price. Ours is the lowest price in the country on cases (if you can find it).

But snatch this one up now, because the critics have caught on. Ian D’Agata of Vinous recently gave this one 94 points and a glowing review. Luckily, I was already locked in for our 20 case allocation. Read the review below.. After you’ve hit the buy button.