2013ClosCanarelli2013 Clos Canarelli, Figari Rouge, Corsica.
The very serious Yves Canarelli 2013 Clos Canarelli Figari Rouge is 80% Niellucciu, 15% Syrah, 5% Sciaccarellu and tastes like a cross between Chateauneuf du Pape and Brunello, but is it’s own wine with beautifully detailed fruit, depth of character, charm and hints of rustic robustness. This wine almost perfectly defines it’s soul and place, this is the essence of terroir, you can almost be transported to the French island when this stuff hits the palate, with closed eyes especially, this impressive Clos Canarelli reveals wild flowers, sea breezes, shale rockiness, pipe tobacco, peppery herbs and lavender before entertaining the mouth with dark fruits, spice and savory complexity. This medium/full red has a solid core of fruit, but also has lots of earthy elements and personality, made mostly from Corsica’s Niellucciu, which is their Sangiovese, there is good acidity and firm tannins, Clos Canarelli has managed to craft a gorgeous wine that captures the rugged idyllic beauty and history of this exotic locale. Also great were Clos Canarelli’s Rose 2014 and their whites, a Vermentino and Blancu Gentile, the last a native varietal, I highly recommend Clos Canarelli, and for an even more rare expression Canarelli has a tiny production of Amphora aged white and red which were amazing, though not cheap. Back to the 2013 Clos Canarelli Rouge, this wine takes on a leather and meat layer with air and delivers boysenberry, strawberry and plum fruit that forms a tight core along with flint stoniness, truffle, iron, dried rose petal, briar spiciness and a hint of frambois. This is very sensual and alluring wine that gives length and pleases completely, drink between 2015 and 2020.
($45 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive

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