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 three-year-old 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 Blanc “Général de la Révolution”
France | Corsica
A nod to the island’s rich history of viticulture, the Général is simply a stunning bottle of white wine.

2021 Vin de France Blanc “Morta Maio”
France | Corsica
Lightly golden in color, it conjures up a day spent in the sun: seabreezes and ripe honeydew, including its subtle, savory rind.

2023 Vin de France Rouge “Faustine”
France | Corsica
This versatile and refined Corsican blend is my favorite wine to take to dinner. It’s always dressed to impress and pairs well with all kinds of fare.

2020 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.

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.

2022 Vin de France Rouge “Grotte di Sole”
France | Corsica
A full-throttle Niellucciu from a sun-soaked limestone vineyard in Patrimonio.

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).

2021 Patrimonio Blanc “Cuvée Sarah”
France | Corsica
This white, raised in demi-muids with malolactic fermentation, flamboyantly shows off the affinity of ripe Vermentinu grapes with a judicious use of wood.

2017 Muscat du Cap Corse
France | Corsica
You won’t confuse this stunning dessert wine with Muscat from anywhere else: its ravishing perfume of miel du maquis, wildflowers, and resinous herbs could come only from Corsica.
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 Rouge “Sempre Azezzu”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2022 Corse Figari Rouge
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2023 Patrimonio Blanc “San Giovanni”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2017 Muscat du Cap Corse
Antoine Arena France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Blanc
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2021 Île de Beauté Biancu Gentile “L’Altru Biancu”
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Muscatellu “Morta Maió” Non Muté
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2018 Corse Calvi Rouge “E Prove”
Domaine Maestracci France | Corsica
2019 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2023 Vin de France “Le Vin Coule Dans Nos Veines”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2022 Patrimonio Blanc
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Rouge “Costa Nera”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Rouge “Sempre Azezzu”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2022 Corse Figari Rouge
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
2023 Patrimonio Blanc “San Giovanni”
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2017 Muscat du Cap Corse
Antoine Arena France | Corsica
2021 Patrimonio Blanc
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2021 Île de Beauté Biancu Gentile “L’Altru Biancu”
Yves Leccia France | Corsica
2020 Vin de France Muscatellu “Morta Maió” Non Muté
Antoine-Marie Arena France | Corsica
2018 Corse Calvi Rouge “E Prove”
Domaine Maestracci France | Corsica
2019 Patrimonio Rouge
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2023 Vin de France “Le Vin Coule Dans Nos Veines”
Domaine Giacometti France | Corsica
2022 Patrimonio Blanc
Domaine Giudicelli France | Corsica
2019 Vin de France Rouge “Costa Nera”
Clos Canarelli France | Corsica
Vintage Chart Mentality

Vintage Chart Mentality
Trust the great winemakers, trust the great vineyards. Your wine merchant might even be trustworthy. In the long run, that vintage strip may be the least important guide to quality on your bottle of wine.—Kermit Lynch