Notify me
2015 Vin de France Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
Jean-Baptiste ArenaThe chalky minerality, the salt sea, the bitter tinge of ripe Rolle grapes—you combine that with fish soup or fish stew and you will revel in the result. Another way to go would be to serve a charcuterie platter.
Here is the dramatic site, the beautiful vintage, the grape variety, bottled. Don’t miss it. This is masterful.
—Kermit Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2015 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Vermentinu |
Appellation: | Vin de France |
Country: | France |
Region: | Corsica |
Producer: | Jean-Baptiste Arena |
Vineyard: | 60 years, 1 ha |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Patrimonio Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
Golden ripe Vermentinu berries are responsible for this fleshy, succulent dry white.
2022 Corse Calvi Blanc “E Prove”
France | Corsica
Fresh, salty, and citrusy all at once—an instant crowd pleaser, and one of Corsica’s top value whites.
2021 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
France | Corsica
Aromas of black fruit, graphite, wild herbs, and game over firm, stony tannins. Saturated with flavors of the Île de Beauté.
Vin de France Rouge “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
A full-throttle Niellucciu from a sun-soaked limestone vineyard in Patrimonio.
2022 Île de Beauté Blanc “E Croce”
France | Corsica
You’ll taste the salty sea breeze in this wine.
2016 Vin de France Blanc “Général de la Révolution”
France | Corsica
A sea-breeze freshness to contrast the fleshy, sun-imbued voluptuousness on the palate.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil “Fruité Douce”
France | Corsica
From a tiny mill in Corsica’s eastern mountains, Douce is soft and tender; Sauvage is wildly peppery and herbaceous.
2017 Patrimonio Rosé
France | Corsica
Just when I think I’ve seen it all, this wine comes along and surprises me! It’s not a typical rosé, nor is it a typical light red wine. Instead, it occupies a wonderful space between the two!
2018 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
France | Corsica
Aromas of black fruit, graphite, wild herbs, and game over firm, stony tannins.
2019 Muscat du Cap Corse “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
See why Cap Corse's famous Muscat tastes like no other dessert wine in the world.
About The Producer
Jean-Baptiste Arena
About The Region
Corsica
I first set foot on the island in 1980. I remember looking down from the airplane window seeing alpine forest and lakes and thinking, uh oh, I got on the wrong plane. Then suddenly I was looking down into the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean. Corsica is a small, impossibly tall island, the tail of the Alp chain rising out of the blue sea.—Kermit Lynch
Kermit’s first trip to the island proved fruitful, with his discovery of Clos Nicrosi’s Vermentino. More than thirty years later, the love affair with Corsica has only grown as we now import wines from ten domaines that cover the north, south, east, and west of what the French affectionately refer to as l’Île de Beauté.
Corsica is currently experiencing somewhat of a renaissance—interest has never been higher in the wines and much of this is due to growers focusing on indigenous and historical grapes found on the island. Niellucciu, Sciarcarellu, and Vermentinu are widely planted but it is now common to find bottlings of Biancu Gentile and Carcaghjolu Neru as well as blends with native varieties like Rossola Bianca, Minustellu, or Montaneccia.
As Kermit described above, Corsica has a strikingly mountainous landscape. The granite peaks top out above 9,000 feet. The terroir is predominantly granite with the exception of the Patrimonio appellation in the north, which has limestone, clay, and schist soils.The wines, much like their southern French counterparts make for great pairings with the local charcuterie, often made from Nustrale, the native wild boar, as well as Brocciu, the Corsican goats milk cheese that is best served within 48 hours of it being made.
More from Corsica or France
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Faustine”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2022 Ile de Beauté Rouge
Domaine Marquiliani France | Corsica
2022 Île de Beauté Rosé
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2022 Corse Calvi Rouge “Clos Reginu”
Domaine Maestracci France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Muscatellu “Morta Maió” Non Muté
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2016 Vin de France Blanc “B.G.”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2016 Muscat du Cap Corse
Antoine Arena France | Corsica
2023 Vin de Corse “Blanc de Marquilliani”
Domaine de Marquiliani France | Corsica
2021 Corse Figari Rosé
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2016 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Blanc
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Faustine”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2022 Ile de Beauté Rouge
Domaine Marquiliani France | Corsica
2022 Île de Beauté Rosé
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2022 Corse Calvi Rouge “Clos Reginu”
Domaine Maestracci France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Muscatellu “Morta Maió” Non Muté
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2016 Vin de France Blanc “B.G.”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2016 Muscat du Cap Corse
Antoine Arena France | Corsica
2023 Vin de Corse “Blanc de Marquilliani”
Domaine de Marquiliani France | Corsica
2021 Corse Figari Rosé
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2016 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Blanc
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
When buying red Burgundy, I think we should remember:
1. Big wines do not age better than light wine.
2. A so-called great vintage at the outset does not guarantee a great vintage for the duration.
3. A so-called off vintage at the outset does not mean the wines do not have a brilliant future ahead of them.
4. Red Burgundy should not taste like Guigal Côte-Rôtie, even if most wine writers wish it would.
5. Don’t follow leaders; watch yer parking meters.
Inspiring Thirst, page 174