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2018 Corse Figari Rouge “Amphora”

Clos Canarelli
Discount Eligible $89.00
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Since taking over the family domaine in 1993, Yves Canarelli has been testing the limits of what can be done in the southern appellation of Figari. From single-parcel, ancient-vine, native-grape field blends to the revival of heirloom grapes like Biancu Gentile and Carcaghjolu Neru, the Canarelli portfolio is full of delicious surprises. Yves’s latest experiments are with amphora-fermented red and white—the first such wines crafted in Corsica since Roman times. Being fairly porous, these terra-cotta vessels provide a textural signature of supple, inviting tannins, effectively taming the somewhat wild character of young Niellucciu. After a roughly six-week vinification in these amphorae, Yves ages the wine in a combination of stainless steel and neutral barrels, a formula he settled on after several years of testing. The wine is then bottled unfined and unfiltered with no added sulfur. Once it has had the chance to open up—an hour or two uncorked should do the trick—this striking red sings a sensual tune of deep, soft fruit, roasted herbs and spices, and an iron-like, meaty element. Enjoy it with a rich, herb-laden roast or stew to best match the bold, brooding flavors.

Anthony Lynch


Technical Information
Wine Type: red
Vintage: 2018
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: 80% Niellucciu and Sciaccarellu 20% Minustellu, Carcaghjolu, Moresconu
Appellation: Corse Figari
Country: France
Region: Corsica
Producer: Clos Canarelli
Winemaker: Yves Canarelli
Vineyard: 14 years average, .5 ha
Soil: Granite
Aging: Vinified in amphora for 4 to 7 weeks, aged in stainless tanks and neutral barrel for 7 to 9 months, no added sulfur
Farming: Biodynamic (certified)
Alcohol: 13.5%

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About The Region

Corsica

map of 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.

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Inspiring Thirst

I want you to realize once and for all: Even the winemaker does not know what aging is going to do to a new vintage; Robert Parker does not know; I do not know. We all make educated (hopefully) guesses about what the future will bring, but guesses they are. And one of the pleasures of a wine cellar is the opportunity it provides for you to witness the evolution of your various selections. Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.

Inspiring Thirst, page 171