2020 Buio Cantina Mesa Carignano del Sulcis

Producer & Grape / Wine Context

• Producer / Estate: Cantina Mesa, located in Sardinia, which works to highlight indigenous varieties and terroir. The “Buio” label (sometimes “Buio Buio”) is one of their flagship Carignano del Sulcis wines.

• Grape / Variety: 100 % Carignano (Carignan).

• Vinification / Style Notes:

  
  

   – According to Mesa, the wine shows biting but not aggressive tannins, and integrates savours and balsamic components with the fruit. 

  
  

   – Some sources note that the wine is made to showcase pure fruit character (with minimal oak or no overt new oak) so as not to mask the Carignano identity.

Tasting Note — 2020 Buio (Carignano del Sulcis)

Appearance

Deep, dense ruby-to-garnet red, with an almost opaque core but still showing clarity at the rim. The color is vivid, indicating youthful intensity and concentration.

Bouquet / Nose

The aromatic profile is ample and sophisticated. On first lift, one senses ripe red berries (red cherry, wild strawberry) and plum, layered with Mediterranean herbs, hints of spice, and slight balsamic undergrowth.  As it opens, tertiary notes of forest floor, tilled soil, and underbrush emerge, adding complexity and depth.  There is a discreet peppery or black pepper accent that frames the fruit.

Palate / Mouthfeel

On entry, the wine presents with energetic drive and structure. The fruit core (Morello cherry, red plum) is fresh yet concentrated.  The mid-palate shows firm but not harsh tannins, well layered, with a saline / savory thread giving momentum to the wine.  The acidity is lively and gives lift, preventing the wine from feeling dense or heavy.  Toward the finish, one finds a lingering echo of red plum, touches of dried herb or herbal lift, and a subtle savory / balsamic reminiscence.

Structure & Balance

This is a wine with strong internal balance: fruit, acid, and tannin play cooperatively, rather than one dominating. The tannic frame is firm but tempered; the acidity ensures freshness; and the fruit is concentrated and expressive without overripe heaviness. The wine exhibits youthful vigor but with hints of emerging complexity.

Aging Potential / Drinking Window

While the 2020 Buio already offers pleasure now (especially with some air or decanting), it should continue evolving over the next 5–8 years. With cellaring, the tertiary notes (forest floor, underbrush, dried herbs) should become more pronounced, and the tannins may soften further, yielding a more integrated, layered expression.

Food Pairings

Given its character, this wine pairs well with:

• Grilled or roasted red meats (lamb, beef)

• Game (e.g., wild boar, game birds)

• Dishes with Mediterranean herbs or tomato bases

• Rich pasta or rice dishes with savory sauces

• Pecorino Sardo or other aged sheep’s cheeses

• Chargrilled tuna, for a slightly bolder seafood pairing