Agricola Punica is a Sardinian estate started as a joint venture between Sebastiano Rosa (Tenuta San Guido’s winemaker), Sardinian cooperative Cantina di Santadi, Tenuta San Guido, Santadi President Antonello Pilloni and legendary Tuscan consulting oenologist Giacomo Tachis. The idea was formed by Giacomo Tachis who saw the potential of producing a fantastic wine from the combination of Sardinian terroir and the Carignano grape.

The company purchased a 370-acre estate in 2002 and divided it into two sites: Barrua and Narcao They are located in the southwest of Sardinia, in the area known as “Sulcis Meridionale.” The Barrua vineyard’s clay and sand mixture is planted to 25 acres of old, bush-trained Carignano vines and 125 acres of new Carignano, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines.

The southwest corner of Sardinia is a nearly perfect environment for the hot-climate traits of the Carignano vine. An extraordinary average of seven daily hours of sunlight enables the fruit to reach an ideal level of ripeness and maturity.

At the moment, the Punica Farm produces two great red wines, Barrua and Montessu, and a delicious white wine called Samas. All of them fall under the appellation I.G.T. Isola Dei Nuraghi, originating from typical Sardinian grapes exceptionally blended with some French varieties.

Barrua is made from Carignano, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes vinified individually in the estate’s Narcao and Barrua vineyards from spurred cordon vines cultivated in Basso Sulcis.

The quality of the Carignano grape is excellent in the Sulcis area, not only in color, but also for the softness of its soluble compounds—from the tannins, the consistently low and elegant acidity and the smoothness of its main components.

The 2019 Agricola Punica Barrua Isola dei Nuraghi is a proprietary blend from Sardinia, Italy. This red wine has garnered significant attention from professional reviewers, with high scores across the board.

Vinous' Eric Guido describes the 2019 Barrua as "intense," highlighting its complexity with "a smoky burst of ashen stones and exotic spices" that eventually reveal "depths of plum sauce and sage complemented by talc." Guido praises the wine's "silky and polished" texture, noting its "cooling acidity and savory mineral tones" which enhance the "core of rich wild berries." He also mentions the "sweet tannins" that frame the finish, which is "long and spicy with potent balsamic-tinged black fruits and tangerine hints." This review is accompanied by a strong score of 93.

James Suckling also awards the wine a score of 93, lauding its structure and focus. He describes the wine as having "dark berries, dark cherries, dried herbs, bark and some cloves," with a "medium to full body" and "fine, firm tannins." Suckling finds the 2019 Barrua to be "serious, layered," with a finish that is "bitter chocolate-like" and "funnelled" with "excellent length." He suggests that the wine will be at its best after 2024.

Wine Spectator's review, which scores the wine at 92, adds a slightly different perspective. They describe the wine as "silky, medium- to full-bodied," with notes of "ripe raspberry and black currant, bay leaf and marjoram, violet, sweet smoke and gravel." The review emphasizes the wine's "trim and well-meshed" structure, with a "generous flavor profile wrapped around sinewy tannins." The blend comprises Carignano, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, and Wine Spectator recommends drinking it now through 2029. Additionally, they note that only 1,000 cases were imported.

In summary, the 2019 Agricola Punica Barrua Isola dei Nuraghi is a highly regarded wine characterized by its complexity, structure, and rich flavor profile. It is well-suited for aging and has received excellent reviews from multiple respected sources.