TwiLea Fletcher

9.1

02.27.26
Wine Lunch Club — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

The hotel restaurant is closed for a huge party. I worked a little magic to order privately some pasta in the other restaurant which is not open. Saluti! “Cent'anni!”

Local Alghero, Sardinia Cabernet.

It is certainly dark currants, dark chocolate, blackberries, black raspberries, the darkest cherries-poached/baked, strawberries the same way, blackberries plum, mocha powder, moist tobacco, soft used leather, crushed rock powder, oak barrel powdery (don’t believe they use a lot of new wood here) dry top soil, dry herbs, dry twig, hint of menthol, dark, rich turned earth, withering dark flowers & red roses round acidity, well balanced, nicely tensioned, elegant and smartly polish finish that land on spice and lasts two-minutes.

14% ABV

@Hotel Carlos V & Spa, Alghero, Sardinia. — 8 months ago

S.S. Mandani

9.2

Mineral, lemon zest.

Sardinian bubbles in Sardinia on Costa Esmeralda to celebrate our honeymoon.

Tasty. Rounded. Zesty. Lemon rind. Minerality. Grapefruit. The sea. — 2 years ago

Michael Gustafson

9.0

Crisp. No longer. Nice Prosecco — 3 years ago

with Guisela

Maxwell Riesberg

8.9

Medium ruby color
Medium nose, primary notes cranberry, red currant
Medium acid, med+ alcohol, med body
Palate red fruits + grass, green bell pepper, black pepper
Good — 4 years ago

Ed Tostanoski

9.0

Light and bright — 5 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.1

Very acidic with lemon and herbs. Great with seafood and Mexican. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.8

Ràfia — Vermentino di Sardegna DOC, 2025
Alghero, Sardegna, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
A single-vineyard Vermentino from Cantina Santa Maria La Palma in Alghero, Sardegna DOC. Crafted in a more serious, artisan style, this expression elevates the grape beyond casual coastal refreshment into structured, cellar-worthy territory. Presented in a dark, thick bottle that signals intent and longevity, with drinking potential comfortably through 2030.

Aromas & Flavors
Layered and intense. Bright citrus oil, white peach, and ripe pear intertwine with pronounced saline minerality and Mediterranean herbs. Subtle almond, crushed stone, and sun-warmed rock nuances give it depth and dimension. The aromatic profile feels sculpted rather than merely fresh.

Mouthfeel
Textured, structured, and persistent. Acidity is vibrant but seamlessly integrated, carrying the wine with precision and energy. There’s weight and density on the mid-palate, yet it never loses tension. The finish is long, mineral-driven, and deeply satisfying, the kind that keeps pulling you back for another sip.

Food Pairings
Lobster, grilled prawns, whole roasted branzino, bottarga pasta, saffron seafood risotto, aged pecorino, or refined Mediterranean cuisine with depth and intensity.

Verdict
The standout Vermentino of the entire event, and arguably one of the finest expressions you’ve tasted. This is not just a refreshing white; it’s a benchmark, showing how Sardegna can produce Vermentino with structure, aging capacity, and artisan identity. A collective choice for a reason.

🍷 Personal Pick
I simply couldn’t stop reaching for this glass. When a wine commands that kind of attention without fatigue, you know you’ve encountered something special. A top-tier Vermentino that redefines expectations and earns a place among the very best. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

A visit to Villa Las Tronas in Alghero for a glass and snacks they served with the pour.

Bellavista is a good memory as Sofia & I visited their property in Francorta in the fall of 2015.

This is bright and lemony with lime zest, grapefruit, just barely ripe pineapple flesh, touch of kiwi, some red apple & Bosc pear, nut w/ a little skin, cream, light fresh herb, dash of caramel, ginger skin, volcanic minerals, sea spray, a touch of yeast, yellow & white spring flowers, lively acidity with a well balanced, nicely polished finish that lasts just over a minute landing minerality. — 8 months ago

Katie

9.1

Fantastic wine. Torbato first wine grape sparkling
The grape is very light and refreshing
A little reduced but it burns off quickly — 3 years ago

with Alex

Kristen Carlson-Bye

8.9

Warmth, straw, golden color, crisp, mature, middle of the road bubbles — 4 years ago

Clayton Smith

9.0

Light body. Not overly fruity or dry. Pleasant on hot day between meals. — 5 years ago

Morgan Diamant

8.9

White Torbato from Alghero Sardinia. Floral nose, with med+ body and high acidity. Stone fruit, grapiness, with a great fruit core. Finish with a good minerality and salinity. Very pleasing and drinkable — 7 years ago

Steve Rura

9.2

Bright sour red cherry, pepper and herbs. A little spicy, some red licorice. With mushroom risotto and lemon-rosemary chicken cutlets. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Made in the more modern style. Leaner and less depth than I’m used to.

The darkish, sour cherries are slightly sour yet have candied & floral quality. Leaner, ripe blackberries, cherries, poached strawberries, hints of raspberries, subtle oak shavings, soft leather, slightly, dry tobacco, some red cola, tea, dry top soils, dark flowers, red roses, nice acidity with a well balanced, even elegant finish that lasts a minute and lands on dry earthiness.

Good pairing with the Culurgiones with Lamb Ragù, Chard, and Salted Citron over pasta.

@Al Refettorio-Alghero, Sardinia.

Photos; Sights of the day (coast & caves) and early evening restaurant alley in old town. — 8 months ago

Jessica Williams

9.1

Rada beach restaurant Italy last night — a year ago

Richard Portes

8.9

16.5. Fresh, good nose, good fruit and acidity. — 2 years ago

Johnson Ho

9.3

Citrus and pear — 3 years ago

Roberto Carli

9.0

I was curious to try this forgotten grape, which was saved by Sella & Mosca, and I’m glad I did! Starting off with the issues, they must have had some stabilization issues because there’s a bit of sediment so the glass has zero bubbles within seconds of being poured. The nose is fruity but with great restraints on ripeness, with white peach, pear, some lemon and plenty of salinity. Good acidity on the palate, the salinity is prominent together with a touch of phenolics which doesn’t detract from the experience. This would be great with some time on the lees, I think that’s what they do for their premium bottle — 4 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.0

Bring on the eggplant parm. You are making me hungry. — 7 years ago