Certified Biodynamic, Integrated Farm
Varieties: Carcajolo Nero (Parraleta)
Country, Region: France, Corsica
Appellation: Vin de France
Made from 0.32 ha of 100 % Carcajolo Neru (Parraleta) vines averaging more than 40 yo. Grown in the granite hillsides of the estate located about an hours drive from Ajaccio. Since 2016 these vines have been cared for with sea water to replace the use of copper and sulphur in the vineyard. Hand harvested into small crates and vatting by gravity, destemmed and not crushed. Skin maceration for several weeks in stainless steel vats, alternating between punching down and pumping over. Devatting and separation of the juices when pouring into barrels. Aging in foudres and demi-muids for 12 months. Blending in stainless steel vats and aging for 3 months. Racking and clarifying filtration when bottling. Aging in glass for at least 6 months.
‘Intense garnet colour with purplish highlights. The nose is subtly sea-salted against ripe red fruits like cassis and blackberries. Deep and profound, it plunges us into the depths. The mouth is concentrated, juicy and succulent with sparkling fruit, fine and silky tannins. A persistent and saline finish that makes the mouth water and extends the emotion. Open 1 hour before, serve at 14-16°.’ Jean-Charles Abbatucci, Winemaker.
'Collectively, Abbatucci’s wines will stretch your palate, your imagination, and even your notions about what wine is or can be. (And you’ll have fun drinking them.)' David Schildknecht, The Wine Advocate, February 2013.
'Abbatucci’s wines are out of this world.' Olivier Poussier, World’s Best Sommelier, 2000.
Domaine Comte Abbatucci extends over 100 ha of granite sandy slopes, located in the southern part of Corsica in the Taravo valley. Among the estate’s 100 hectares, there are 18 ha of vines at about 100m above sea level but you will also find fruit trees, vegetables, olive trees and sheep which have all been farmed bio-dynamically since 2000.
The estate is one of the oldest vineyard plantations in Corsica and has been chosen to study and experiment the reproduction of ancient vine varieties. The estate grows a wide range of indigenous varieties including Niellucio and Sciacarello as well as the more obscure Morescola, Morescono, Aleatico, Carcajolo Nera, Montanaccia. Life on the estate is regulated by the rhythms of the sun, moon and the planets. The grapes are said to develop in health and harmony with the assistance of traditional Corsican polyphonic music played over loudspeakers.
If it wasn’t for Antoine Abbatucci, most of the grapes now grown by his son, Jean-Charles, might well not exist. In the 1960s, local Corsican grapes were being rapidly replaced by international competitors. Antoine was charged with preserving these varieties and, using a hectare of land, created a ampelographic station and saved the fate of 18 of them.
When Jean-Charles took over in 2000, he began grafting these old varieties onto the existing vines, and then started to grow them biodynamically. Today, 14 of those varieties can be found at Domaine Abbatucci, and there are now around 18 hectares of vines, which are planted on granite slopes 100 metres above sea level. They thrive in an ecosystem in which a wide variety of flora and fauna grow beside the vines, adding to the ecological diversity, an important part of bio-dynamic viticulture. In the winter, a herd of sheep comes to the land, and there is also a herd of striped “tiger cows”. The cows are bred by Jean-Charles’s brother, Jacque, and eaten at the restaurant run their other brother, Henri. The vines are punctuated by shrubs and olive trees.
The estate produces around 1,500- 3,000 bottles of each type of wine from these old heirloom varieties, so you’ll have to hurry if you want to experience the unique qualities of grapes that were raised from the dead. Today Jean-Charles’ wines are recognised by experts all over the world as wines that preserve the very particular and original flavours of Corsican terroir.
