Notify me
2016 Vin de France Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
Jean-Baptiste ArenaWe love a light, crisp, lemony Vermentino, but the great terroirs of Patrimonio, where Jean-Baptiste Arena plies his trade, yield an altogether different expression of the grape locally known as Malvasgia. Grotte di Sole, or “grottoes of sun,” is an imposing south-facing limestone slope that soaks up the fierce rays of Corsican sunshine from morning to nightfall, giving a substantial white with a plump, creamy, mouth-filling presence on the palate. Now picture the little quaffers Vermentino makes in lesser sites—this wine eats them for breakfast.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2016 |
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: | 14% |
More from this Producer or Region
2021 Patrimonio Blanc
France | Corsica
It’s beautifully ethereal, with pillowy fruit that tastes so sublime it would be limiting to attempt a description, although quince and verbena jump to mind.
2018 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
France | Corsica
Aromas of black fruit, graphite, wild herbs, and game over firm, stony tannins.
2021 Patrimonio Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
Golden ripe Vermentinu berries are responsible for this fleshy, succulent dry white.
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.
2022 Bonifacio Blanc “Tarra di Sognu”
France | Corsica
Experience Bonifacio, one of Corsica's historic wine regions, through Canarelli's epic, age-worthy biancu.
2018 Île de Beauté Rouge “O Bà”
France | Corsica
A complex blend of one part Niellucciu for structure, one part Minustellu for silky tannins, and one part Grenache for a splash of wild blackberry and sunbaked earth, there is both power and elegance.
Vin de France Rouge “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
A full-throttle Niellucciu from a sun-soaked limestone vineyard in Patrimonio.
2021 Patrimonio Rouge “E Croce”
France | Corsica
Leccia's earthy, delicious island-mountain wine is fun, accessible and pairs with anything from fish stew to pasta to lounging in the park.
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cuvée Sarah”
France | Corsica
The Cuvée Sarah, an aromatic mix of roasted, smoking herbs with plenty of tannins to chew on, goes down with pleasure and calls for another round (and a grill).
2022 Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
France | Corsica
Fruity nose with a hint of black olive; mild yet richly textured with a soft, peppery finish.
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
2016 Vin de France Blanc “Général de la Révolution”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2020 Île de Beauté Rouge
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Rouge “Costa Nera”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2021 Corse Figari Rosé
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2017 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2017 Muscat du Cap Corse
Antoine Arena France | Corsica
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cuvée Sarah”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Blanc “B.G.”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2019 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2022 Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
Yves Canarelli France | Corsica
2016 Vin de France Blanc “Général de la Révolution”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2020 Île de Beauté Rouge
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Rouge “Costa Nera”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2021 Corse Figari Rosé
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2017 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2017 Muscat du Cap Corse
Antoine Arena France | Corsica
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cuvée Sarah”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Blanc “B.G.”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2019 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2022 Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
Yves Canarelli France | Corsica
Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Great winemakers, great terroirs, there is never any hurry. And I no longer buy into this idea of “peak” maturity. Great winemakers, great terroirs, their wines offer different pleasures at different ages.
Inspiring Thirst, page 312