2012 Isola dei Nuraghi Assajé

If the title of “first growth estate” was up for grabs on the island of Sardinia, Capichera would certainly win it as its relatively expensive Vermentino wines have long been considered the benchmarks by which all others are judged. In fact, only one white wine is labeled as a Vermentino di Gallura DOCG wine, but all the other white wines are based on Vermentino as well. Over the years, the Ragnedda family has done a wonderful job of maintaining and improving quality by reining in its use of oak, making for fresher, more precise wines of late. The estate’s portfolio of offerings has been gradually expanded to include increasingly good red (especially) and rosé wines. The Albori di Lampata is the latest new wine to be released and it's very impressive from the get-go.