Domaine Pieretti Blanc 2019
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One expects to taste something akin to Southern Rhone whites, but the Sea does wonders and Lina is fanatical about harvesting at the right moment, picking the fruit as cool as possible, and then cooling it down further before fermentation. The results speak for themselves.
The Pieretti name has been associated with grape growing in Corsica for generations. The Domaine was founded by her grandfather, but the family history goes back beyond the founding of Domaine Pieretti. Lina took over 3HA from her father in 1989, a hard year marked by tragic wildfires in Corsica. She has since grown the domaine to 14HA - which is truly something considering the total area of the Cap Corse appellation is below 40HA. As one might imagine, she is one of only a handful of vignerons making wine here. The vines, like most vines in the Cap Corse, are dramatically positioned either stunningly close to the sea or on steep mountain slopes.
Lina is very precise about farming and while some of her vineyards are certified organic, others she finds too inaccessible to be 100% organic. Regardless, the farming is clean and responsible.
The winemaking is simple and straightforward. The only thing she does that might be considered a winemaking 'trick' is to cool the fruit down before fermentation. She harvests early in the morning and then leaves the grapes in a cold room for a bit before processing the fruit. The reds undergo spontaneous fermentation and the white and rosé are inoculated with a cultured yeast from the property. Most wines see only steel. Lina is a charming but direct woman, something that I am sure has served her well as one of only a few women making wine in Corsica. Her wines reflect this personality as well as the water, wind and rocks that define the Cap Corse.
A fantastic, aromatic white grape that grows with great success in Sardinia, Tuscany and in lesser proportions on the island of Corsica. Somm Secret—Vermentino is thought to be genetically identical to Liguria’s Pigato grape and Peidmont’s Favorita. It comprises a large proportion of the whites in southern France where it is called Rolle.
A mountainous, Mediterranean island covered in vineyards, Corsica, while closer to Italy in proximity and history, is today under France's political jurisdiction. The island is home to a mix of Italian and French grapes, typically planted at high elevations. Niellucciu (Sangiovese), Sciacarellu (Mammolo), and Vermentino (Rolle) are the main grape varieties of Corsica, and account for about two thirds of all Corsican wines produced.