Capichera
Assaje 2022
| Denomination | IGT Isola dei Nuraghi |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% by volume |
| Area | Sardinia (Italy) |
| Grape varieties | 100% Carignano |
| Aging | Aged for 12 months in French oak barriques |
- Origin and grape: Gallura (Sardinia), Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, 100% Carignano 2022
- Vinification: 3 weeks in steel, aged 12 months in oak barriques
- Aromas: black fruits, cherries in spirit, myrtle, spices, eucalyptus, cocoa, saline notes
- Taste: full-bodied and warm, savoury, intense ripe fruit, fine tannins, persistent finish
- Rating: 93/100 James Suckling, 14.5% vol, ageing potential 10-15 years
Description
What kind of wine it is
Assaje by Capichera is a still red wine made from Carignano grapes, a true expression of the Isola dei Nuraghi. It appears in the glass with an intense ruby red colour with violet highlights. On the nose, it reveals a complex bouquet combining notes of black fruits, cherries in spirit and myrtle with hints of spices, eucalyptus and saline nuances. The palate is full and enveloping, supported by concentrated ripe fruit and a distinct savouriness. The fine tannic texture accompanies the tasting towards a long and persistent finish, perfect for pairing with roast meats or mature cheeses.
Where it comes from
This wine is produced in Sardinia, in the Gallura area, near Arzachena. The vines sink their roots into mineral-rich granite soils, which impart a pronounced savoury character to the wine. The influence of sea breezes and constant temperature variations encourage the development of remarkable aromatic intensity and a rich sugar concentration. The name Assaje, which in the local dialect means "it is already something", highlights the inseparable bond with the Gallura region, delivering an authentic and highly characterful profile.
How it is produced
After the grapes are harvested, fermentation takes place in stainless steel with a three-week maceration at controlled temperature, a fundamental process for the gradual extraction of colour and tannins. Maturation continues for twelve months in French oak barrels, a choice that enriches the wine's structure without overpowering its varietal character, while also ensuring excellent longevity. To best enhance its olfactory complexity, it is recommended to decant for about an hour before serving.
History and Curiosities
In the Gallurese dialect, Assajé means “it’s already something”, an expression that encapsulates the essence of Capichera’s first still red wine, a winery founded in 1975. This identity project from Arzachena masterfully enhances the Carignano grapes of the Isola dei Nuraghi. The 2022 vintage, awarded 93 points by James Suckling, represents a perfect blend of local tradition and innovation. With a production of 250,000 bottles, the label is confirmed as the undisputed flagship of the company, offering an experience with an authentically deep Sardinian character.
Awards
-
2022
93/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1975
- Oenologist: Marco Lostia
- Bottles produced: 250.000
- Hectares: 50
Capichera's story began in the early 20th century, when the grandfather of today's owners inherited a farm of over 50 hectares, in what is now the municipality of Arzachena, in the extreme orth of Sardinia: an area already famed for its suitability for winegrowing. In those days the vineyards produced just enough wine for the family, who lived in the town of Arzachena but liked to spend Spring at the farm at Capichera.
In the Seventies, the father of today's owners planted new vineyards of Vermentino, the typical local grape variety, and built a modern winery for the production of high quality wines.
In 1980 the first wine was sold under the Capichera label, a Vermentino radically different from those already on the market: it was richer, more fragrant, smoother, and longer-lived than other, more important wines.
In the 1980s brothers Fabrizio and Mario began to work in the winery, and although very young, invested their energy in a difficult challenge: making Capichera a leader in top quality wine production.
Today Capichera is a young winery, with its own rich history of development in quantity, and above all quality, of experimentation, innovation and progressive improvement of the products and the production and management processes.
The original 10 hectares of vineyards have become 60 today and others are being planted; production is now around 300,000 bottles, and will increase by 80% over the next few years.
The vineyards belonging to the Capichera winery are of the highest quality possible in Sardinia; this land has been well-known for centuries for its agricultural potential, which has also been confirmed by laboratory analysis. The vines are the result of scrupulous selection in Capichera and in France, by selected nursery gardens working under the supervision of the winery's own experts. Capichera's Vermentino and Carignano vineyards are - and will remain - unparalleled in quality. Read more
| Name | Capichera Assaje 2022 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Isola dei Nuraghi IGT |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 14.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 100% Carignano |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sardinia |
| Vendor | Capichera |
| Story | History and Curiosities In the Gallurese dialect, Assajé means "it’s already something", an expression that encapsulates the essence of Capichera’s first still red wine, a winery founded in 1975. This identity project from Arzachena masterfully enhances the Carignano grapes of the Isola dei Nuraghi. The 2022 vintage, awarded 93 points by James Suckling, represents a perfect blend of local tradition and innovation. With a production of 250,000 bottles, the label is confirmed as the undisputed flagship of the company, offering an experience with an authentically deep Sardinian character. |
| Origin | Arzachena (SS) |
| Soil composition | Mineral soils rich in granite |
| Fermentation | About 3 weeks |
| Production technique | Fermentation and maceration in steel tanks for about 3 weeks; ageing for 12 months in French oak barriques |
| Wine making | Fermentation and maceration in stainless steel tanks for about 3 weeks; ageing for 12 months in French oak barriques. |
| Aging | Aged for 12 months in French oak barriques |
| Year production | 250000 bottles |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |