Notify me
2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Morta Maio”
Antoine Arena
An early resistant to the wave of chemical farming and technological winemaking that swept across France decades ago, Antoine Arena inadvertently became a pioneer of what is now known as the natural wine movement. But his legacy will truly be cemented as an ardent defender of the Corsican identity, as expressed through the lens of the Patrimonio appellation and its great terroirs.
While he has passed on most of his vineyard holdings to his two sons, he still vinifies a few cuvées each year with as much passion and dedication as ever. This bottling of 100% Niellucciu showcases the dark, flaky schist, known locally as marticciu, that is found around the winery. Antoine’s less-is-more approach in the cellar yields a vibrant tonic akin to a savory brew of muddled stone, wild herbs, and salty sea air. To experience the best this island has to offer, this bottling from the godfather of Corsican terroir-driven winemaking is not a bad place to start.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | red |
Vintage: | 2020 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | Niellucciu |
Appellation: | Patrimonio |
Country: | France |
Region: | Corsica |
Producer: | Antoine Arena |
Vineyard: | Planted in 2001, 2 ha |
Soil: | Schist |
Farming: | Organic (certified) |
Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region

2019 Vin de France Rouge “Costa Nera”
France | Corsica
A grandiose monument to the power of Corsica’s heirloom grapes.

2022 Patrimonio Blanc “Carco”
France | Corsica
Limestone, sea breeze, and wildflowers: welcome to Patrimonio.

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).

2023 Ile de Beauté Rouge
France | Corsica
A Corsican red from a rosé specialist.

2020 Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Azezzu”
France | Corsica
Not quite Rhône-like and not quite Corsican, this has the best of both worlds, with plenty of palate-staining black fruit to boot.

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.

2013 Vin de France Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
Golden ripe Vermentinu berries are responsible for this fleshy, succulent dry white.

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.

2018 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
France | Corsica
Rich, exotic, and appealing—a monument to the grandeur of the forgotten Corsican varietals.

2023 Vin de Corse Rosé “Gris de Marquiliani”
France | Corsica
A gentle wave of peach, melon, and spring flowers rolls over the palate and lingers long past your last sip.
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
2022 Vin de France Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
Jean-Baptiste Arena France | Corsica
2018 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2023 Vin de France Blanc “Faustine”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2019 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2022 Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
Yves Canarelli France | Corsica
2017 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2022 Patrimonio Blanc “Hauts de Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Monte Bianco”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Blanc “Cuvée Sarah”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2016 Vin de France Blanc “Général de la Révolution”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2023 Vin de Corse Rosé “Gris de Marquiliani” MAGNUM
Domaine de Marquiliani France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2022 Vin de France Blanc “Grotte di Sole”
Jean-Baptiste Arena France | Corsica
2018 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2023 Vin de France Blanc “Faustine”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2019 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2022 Huile d’Olive Vierge Extra
Yves Canarelli France | Corsica
2017 Vin de France Blanc “Diplomate d’Empire”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2022 Patrimonio Blanc “Hauts de Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2022 Vin de France Rouge “Monte Bianco”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Blanc “Cuvée Sarah”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2016 Vin de France Blanc “Général de la Révolution”
Domaine Comte Abbatucci France | Corsica
2023 Vin de Corse Rosé “Gris de Marquiliani” MAGNUM
Domaine de Marquiliani France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Rouge “Carco”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
Kermit once said...

Kermit once said...
If you're looking for value, look where no one else is looking.
Inspiring Thirst, page 211