Notify me
2017 Patrimonio Rosé
Antoine ArenaAntoine Arena’s rosé is a rare treat only produced in certain years, but this just-released 2017 is even more unusual. When this saignée of Niellucciu did not finish its fermentation, Antoine left it in tank hoping that it would eventually wake up and consume its last few grams of sugar. It bubbled away at a glacial pace until his son, Antoine-Marie, passed the wine over some pomace (marc) from the 2021 harvest. This sort of ripasso succeeded in boosting the yeasts, allowing the 2017 rosé to finally complete its fermentation to full dryness.
This creative technique also had the effect of brightening up the wine, which tastes fresh as a daisy despite being more than five years old. It is bursting with fresh berry fruit in a darker style that blurs the lines between dark pink and light red.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | Rosé |
Vintage: | 2017 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Niellucciu |
Appellation: | Patrimonio |
Country: | France |
Region: | Corsica |
Producer: | Antoine Arena |
Winemaker: | Antoine Arena |
Vineyard: | .5 ha |
Soil: | Chalk, Clay, Limestone |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 12% |
More from this Producer or Region
2019 Vin de France Muscatellu “Morta Maió” Non Muté
France | Corsica
If you’re like me, a glass of Corsican Muscatellu sparks visions of evening cheese plates laden with Marcona almonds and gemlike fruits.
2021 Corse Figari Rouge “Amphora”
France | Corsica
This brooding amphora-aged red is a tribute to ancient Corsican wines, as they were produced in Roman times.
2022 Île de Beauté Blanc
France | Corsica
Sun-ripened fruit, sea-mist salinity, and an alluring note of fresh herbs.
2016 Muscat du Cap Corse
France | Corsica
Ravishing perfume of miel du maquis, wildflowers, and resinous herbs.
2013 Vin de France Blanc “Cuvée Kermit Lynch”
France | Corsica
Bianco Gentile and Vermentinu work so well together in this cuvée we have to wonder if this was the way things were done back in the day.
2019 Patrimonio Rouge “Morta Maio”
France | Corsica
A vibrant tonic akin to a savory brew of muddled stone, wild herbs, and salty sea air.
2018 Corse Calvi Rouge “E Prove”
France | Corsica
The island of Corsica is only a few hours by ferry from mainland France, but when you arrive, you get the sense you’ve set foot in a partly foreign country.
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.
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
Antoine 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
2020 Vin de France Blanc “Hauts de Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2021 Île de Beauté Rouge
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2021 Corse Figari Rouge “Amphora”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Blanc “B.G.”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2022 Île de Beauté Blanc “E Croce”
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Rouge “E Croce”
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2017 Corse Figari Rouge “Amphora”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2017 Biancu Gentile “BG”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2022 Patrimonio Rosé “Cru des Agriate”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2017 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2018 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Rouge “Ministre Impérial”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Blanc “Hauts de Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2021 Île de Beauté Rouge
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2021 Corse Figari Rouge “Amphora”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Blanc “B.G.”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2022 Île de Beauté Blanc “E Croce”
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Rouge “E Croce”
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2017 Corse Figari Rouge “Amphora”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2017 Biancu Gentile “BG”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2022 Patrimonio Rosé “Cru des Agriate”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2017 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2018 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Rouge “Ministre Impérial”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci 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