2016 Isola dei Nuraghi Turriga

No report on Sardinia would be complete without Argiolas. One of the island’s largest and most widely distributed producers, Argiolas focuses entirely on indigenous varieties. During my recent tastings the Giacomo Tachis inspired and highly regarded Turriga showed well. This dark, rich blend of 85% Cannonau, 5% Carignano, 5% Bovale Sardo and 5% Malvasia Nera is a force to be reckoned with, and it guarantees a long life in the cellar through a combination of its balanced intensity and barrique influence. The Korem, made in a similar style but with Bovale being the lion’s share of the blend, was also a standout. Outside of their prestige lineup, the winery also offers a large number of fresher-styled wines made from the island’s diverse selection of grapes. Unfortunately, one recurring theme that marked this tasting was an inordinate number of cork-related issues, resulting in the need to check in on multiple bottles to ensure consistency. That said, cork taint seems to be a widespread issue throughout much of Sardinia at this time.