Alberto Loi Nibaru Monica di Sardegna

The Alberto Loi Estate was established by the end of the forties and the beginning of the fifties by Alberto Loi, born in Jerzu in a family of wine cultivators, producers and traders of Cannonau wine. The present owners, Alberto Loi's boys, constitute the third generation of the family devoted to the production of Cannonau wine.

The estate is located in Ogliastra, the east-central region of Sardinia, the most celebrated of the entire island for the production of the Cannonau wine. More precisely, it is situated in the countryside of Cardedu at just a few kilometres from Jerzu. The whole Ogliastra is rich with traces of the inerea civilization and it's not difficult to visit the remains of the Nuragh and Domus de Janas. You can find numerous local folklore organizations, which supervise the preparation of the country festivities, and the colourful country festival which takes place from April to October. The production of Cannonau DOC wine of the territory of Cardedu and Jerzu avails of the specific sub-denomination "Jerzu" provided under the rules for DOC of the Cannonau wine of Sardinia.

Monica,

Nibaru is the name of a local wild bush plant called "spaccasassi" (literally from Italian "stone breaker") which produces tiny round black berries, made of a round seed with a bit of pulp and skin around. There is one of these plants growing in the plot of Monica vines in the commune of San Vito, which produce this particular wine. This local wild berry has a very tannic and herbaceous taste, of "garrigue (the soil and wild plants that grow on the craggy hill of the countries in the Mediterranean region", which can be detected in some of the wines of Cantina Alberto Loi, especially in this "Nibaru".

Fermentation at controlled temperature in stainless steel silos. It ages in cement vats.

Succulent blackberries, juicy plums and crisp cassis mingle with crushed wildflowers, Mediterranean scrub, pencil shavings, warm earth, and a touch of chocolate. Dusty tannins cling to the cheeks, while this wine's sweet, brambly fruits find their match in a penetrating mineral core. This wine culminates in a dry finish that pulsates with iron ore and herbs.