A blend of 85% old-vine Carignano and 15% Syrah, the 2012 Shardana is a well-made wine that was born as a vinous joint venture between Cantina Santadi and its importer Empson USA. It shows a dark and richly saturated appearance, and the wine opens to penetrating aromas of black fruit, spice, tar, licorice and savory tobacco. Perhaps the bouquet in this warm vintage is not as exceedingly sharp or focused as previous editions. The finish is structured, concentrated and powerful. Some 20,000 bottles were made.

Black cherries, licorice, smoke, sweet herbs and tar all meld together in the 2008 Shardana, a blend of 90% old-vine Carignano and 10% Syrah. A deep, fleshy wine, the 2008 impresses for its balance and sheer character. The style is dark, brooding and intense, largely because of the Syrah, but it all works, and beautifully. Gorgeous perfumed notes linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. What a pleasure it is to taste these new releases from Santadi, one of Sardinia’s leading producers. Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

The 2007 Shardana comes across as quite rustic in this vintage. It is a big, powerful wine loaded with dark fruit, earthiness, licorice, tar, smoke and hints of brett. Plenty of rough edges remain, distancing the 2007 from the finer vintages that have been made here. Shardana is 85% Carignano and 15% Syrah aged in French oak. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. From top to bottom this is an impressive set of wines from Shardana. One of the developments here in recent years has been an increasing reliance in cement over stainless steel for the whites Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900

The 2006 Shardana wraps around the palate with imposing layers of black olives, spices, grilled herbs and licorice. The 2006 is a muscular Shardana in which the 15% Syrah seems to speak loudly. I especially like the way the finish builds towards an intense crescendo here. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2026. From top to bottom this is an impressive set of wines from Shardana. One of the developments here in recent years has been an increasing reliance in cement over stainless steel for the whites Importer: Empson, USA, Alexandria, VA; tel. (703) 684-0900