2016 Clos Canarelli, Corse Figari Rouge, Corsica, France.
The powerful and sophisticated Corse Figari Rouge by the talented Yves Canarelli at Clos Canarelli is a unique blend of 80% Niellucciu, 15% Syrah and 5% Sciaccarellu, with Niellucciu being an ancient Etruscan clone of Sangiovese and Sciaccarellu being also Etruscan brought to the Island ages ago and is the same varietal as Mammolo a lesser known Chianti red grape that is almost extinct in Tuscany.
This 2016 vintage is wonderfully complex, layered and deep with a very dark garnet/crimson color and with a serious tannin backbone that serves this wine well acting as a natural balancing spine that holds the warm ripeness of the fruit in check, making this a wine that has tremendous aging potential as well as being a gripping young wine that becomes much more pleasing with decanting and or air. Dark fruits and spice lead the way on the full bodied palate with complex flavors unfolding with every sip, the Corse Figari Rouge gives up blackberry, brandied cherry, plum and mulberry fruits along with hints of cigar/tobacco, wild herb, cedar and minty notes as well as lingering blueberry, smoke/embers and cinnamon spice.
Clos Canarelli, originally founded in 1968, is an all organic and certified biodynamic estate in the remote village of Tarabucetta, on the outskirts of Figari on the southern tip of Corsica, is one of the Island’s most iconic wineries, crafting white, pink and red wines. According to Canarelli’s importer, the famous Kermit Lynch, who was one of the first to recognize the greatness on Corsica, Yves’s choice to convert the domaine to biodynamic viticulture has has given his wines an unusual freshness, complexity, and aromatic intensity that others in Figari have been unable to achieve. Kermit adds, In the cellar, Yves only uses indigenous yeasts, and prefers slow, deliberate, precise fermentations, and leaves his reds unfiltered. With this Corse Figari Rouge being 100% de-stemmed and fermented using large foudres with gentle hand punchdowns daily then aged up to 18 months. This wine is a great alternative to Tuscan reds, Bordeaux and or Rioja, it certainly out performs many such wines in its price class if not much higher!
($45 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive