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2022 Île de Beauté Rouge

Yves Leccia
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The 1960s in Corsica saw a widespread expansion of viticulture, much of it subsidized by the French government, entailing mass planting of purportedly “noble” French grape varieties in place of the humble native cépages. That trend has now been completely turned on its head as Corsican vignerons reclaim their heritage and focus on the island’s wealth of autochthonous varieties, with great success. In this bottling from Yves Leccia, the French import Grenache—called Elegante in Corsica—takes center stage, offering fragrant notes of lavender spiced with balmy Mediterranean brush. A splash of the indigenous Niellucciu completes the blend, adding some muscle to this savory, floral red whose sunny island flavors come into focus when slightly chilled.

Anthony Lynch

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Technical Information
Wine Type: red
Vintage: 2022
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: 80% Grenache 20% Niellucciu
Appellation: Patrimonio
Country: France
Region: Corsica
Producer: Yves Leccia
Winemaker: Yves Leccia
Vineyard: Planted in 1994, 7.1 ha
Soil: Clay, Limestone, Schist
Aging: All red grapes are de-stemmed, then placed in stainless steel cuves for 12 to 15 days with daily pump-overs, then aged for 12 months
Farming: Organic (certified)
Alcohol: 14%

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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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Vintage illustration of men rolling barrels.

We only import wine we drink and enjoy ourselves, directly from the source.

Our wine tastes the same in your home as it did where it was bottled in Europe.

Like the long-term relationships we build with growers, we build long-term relationships with our clients. Have a question? Need wine advice? Just give us a call—510-524-1524.

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