Cantina Santa Maria la Palma Le Bombarde Cannonau di Sardegna

I love finding amazing values from areas that are normally not known for them.  While Sardinian wine is not necessarily expensive, a lot isn't exported and the best wines are usually north of $30.  The little values are usually not that impressive, until this one.  100% Cannanao di Sardinia, also known as Grenache, but here they have adopted their own name for this variety due to its extreme climate and soils.  This island is made of pure granite (they supply a lot of Italy's countertops!), with shallow soils over this granite bedrock.  This wine is ripe, elegant and one of the most beautiful, pure expressions of this grape.  There's a clean nose of minerally dark red fruit, and a polished palate that is silky, generous, and lengthy.