You never know when a wine region is going to have that transformative moment. Once in a while, a winemaker crafting transcendent wines will emerge from an unexpected area, changing everything we think we know about the region. On Sicily's Mount Etna, Salvo Foti changed the game; now, we can’t get enough Nerello Mascalese, a grape historically known to only the most dedicated explorers. In the Loire, Clos Rougeard was the harbinger of a revolution in quality that expanded well beyond the borders of Saumur.

If you asked the average wine geek about Sardinian wine, they might tell you that the island's most commonly planted grape, Cannonau, is actually the local name for Grenache, a remnant of Spanish occupation. They might reference Monica or the numerous fresh whites made from Vermentino, and then the story ends. Why? Because Sardinian wines are known for their rustic, sun-kissed charm, and not much else.

And so, when we tasted Teularju a few weeks back, we sat up and took notice. On the first approach, the wines are wildly aromatic, with lifted red fruits and wild herbs, lip-smacking acidity, and juicy tannins leading to a supremely long finish. “What in the world?!” we exclaimed, and promptly went back for another sip. “This is the best Cannonau we've ever tasted, and it’s not even close”

What in the world, indeed!

Teleuraju is a young, family estate in the tiny commune of Mamojá with bush-trained Cannonau vines sitting in granitic soils at 700+ meters elevation. The family is dedicated to natural farming (no chemicals, cover cropping etc) and capturing every detail of their Ghiradas (Sardinian for cru) in the wines. Extreme diurnal temperature shifts at this elevation provide optimal ripeness, but with an undeniable energy and freshness. Harvest is manual. Maceration lasts 12 days before gentle pressing, then racking into large, neutral barrels.

The wines are deeply rooted in their mountainous Sardinian terroir yet they also look out beyond their island borders, taking inspiration from some of the world's greatest estates. The most obvious comparison would be Comando G's iconic Sierra de Gredos wines: gloriously elegant, silky Grenache based wines with loads of character and definition. Other comparisons could be made to Burlotto's high-toned whole-cluster influenced Barolo, or the crunchy, red-fruited drive of new-wave Burgundy growers like Bertheau-Gerbet, genre defying/defining growers in their own right.

Today we are so excited to share the first US release from Teularju. This is a project that is just getting underway, but we could not be more excited to see what the future holds.

Teularju, Barbagia Rosso, 2022 $49.99
Crunchy, red fruited and a touch herbaceous, this is the “entry-level” wine is a genre redefining Cannonau. This is a must try for 2024.

Teularju, Barbagia Rosso Ghirada Ocruarana, 2019 $109.99
This single vineyard Cannonau is all about elegance and detail. Hugely aromatic. Powerful yet almost weightless. Mind-bendingly delicious wine on a truly world class level.