Haute Vigne Blanc Clos Santini 2022

Corsica or Corse has many nicknames such as "Mountain in the sea" or "Beauty Island". Its tormented landscape, with steep mountain, valleys and the proximity to the Mediterranean sea combined with schiste and granitic soils create a perfect terroir to make wine. The first vines were planted in 570 BC by the Phocean (the ancient Greeks) then followed the Romans, who expanded the vineyards all around the island, in the valleys and mostly near the coast. French since the 18th Century, Corsica planted in the 50-60's classic varieties to respond to the high demand for table wines from the "mainland", France. Today, the Island is focusing again on its indigenous varieties which are somehow related to many grapes found in Tuscany, Italy. For example, the main red grape of the island, the Niellucciu is related to Sangiovese resulting in dry, tannic, spicy reds. It is often blended with another Tuscan variety, called Siaccarello in Corsica, and Mammolo in Italy. These indigenous grapes are sometimes blended with more classic varieties to make excellent pale color Rosés which are usually dry with a touch of salinity on the finish. For the whites, the Vermentino (or Corsican Malvasia) dominates, it is sometimes blended with Ugni Blanc (known also as Rolle or Rossola) and the Muscat Petits Grains (Muscat, Small Grains) that goes into the making of a sweet dessert wine called Muscat du Cap, and its sparkling version is similar to an Italian Moscato.