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2020 Patrimonio Rouge “Cru Des Agriate”

Domaine Giacometti
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You may recall us describing the reds of Patrimonio, a northern Corsican appellation and stronghold of the Niellucciu grape, as wild, brawny, rustic, or gamey. They certainly can be—and delightfully so—but this release from Simon Giacometti is a whole different animal, so to speak. It’s made in a remote part of the appellation where sandy granite soils replace the limestone found elsewhere in Patrimonio. Niellucciu from granite tastes juicier, spicier, and less structured than from limestone; on top of that, Simon harvested early to capture plenty of freshness and lower alcohol. Bright red fruit, Corsican herbs, and smooth tannins make this a unique, but no less terroir-driven, Patrimonio that is a real joy to drink right now.

Anthony Lynch

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Technical Information
Wine Type: red
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: 97% Niellucciu, 3% Grenache
Appellation: Patrimonio
Country: France
Region: Corsica
Producer: Domaine Giacometti
Winemaker: Christian Giacometti
Vineyard: 10 to 45 years, 35 ha total
Soil: Clay, Granite
Aging: Aged for 10 months on fine lees in stainless steel tank
Farming: Organic (practicing)
Alcohol: 13%

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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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Kermit inspecting wine barrels

For the wines that I buy I insist that the winemaker leave them whole, intact. I go into the cellars now and select specific barrels or cuvées, and I request that they be bottled without stripping them with filters or other devices. This means that many of our wines will arrive with a smudge of sediment and will throw a more important deposit as time goes by, It also means the wine will taste better.

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