Many of you may know Mick from his days working in London's prestigious wine merchant Handford Wines and for being a generally all-round excellent human being with a larger than life passion for wine. He was able to realise his long term goal of actually putting his own label on a bottle as a result of his family connections in Sardinia and, ever since, has been a one man force in the region he has called home (from home!), Galtelli, on the north eastern shores of the island. Mick was determined to make wine that he enjoyed despite the fact the local wines were far removed in most part from this style. A lighter, foot trodden whole-bunch Cannonau (Grenache) which was more 'light burgundy' than 'heavy Mediterranean' was his first attempt, and had everyone in the village guffawing. But they came round, just as we did, to this style and now many people in the village make a wine of this style because they can drink them young and cool, and they taste delicious. His affable charm and dogged determination won the day and now everyone is smiling!
So onto V5 G 'n Guerra, and V1 Buccia (skins) not Battles. First the vineyards. Both have underlying granitic bed rock with variances of clay and sand on top with a light, but poor, organic content. They are situated among the hills above the village and benefit from cooling sea air but are still essentially warm/hot climate. Canopy management is key and a good coverage for the fruit helps to stop sunburn and achieve phenolic ripeness without hedonistic levels of sugar.
BnB is Vermentino sourced solely from Galtelli, whilst V5 GnG is actually sourced from two vineyards, one in Galtelli, the other in Orgoloso, a little further to the south and inland, and at higher altitude, and where the soil is more sand than clay.). Both wines are hand picked, and whole-bunch fermented, spontaneously. Three and a half days of skin maceration with foot treading twice daily and then to the basket press. Ferment is finished in inox tank and bottled without fining or filtration the following spring. Simple, but effective wine making.
