Domaine Comte Abbatucci Faustine Vieilles Vignes 2022
(Corsica, France)

About:

Jean-Charles Abbatucci farms the rugged, windswept, granite slopes of southern Corsica, applying biodynamic and other experimental farming practices to Corsican grape varieties like Sciaccarellu, Barbarossa, and Carcajolu Neru. His Faustine rouge—named for his daughter—is probably the best introduction to his lineup of unique, world-class wines. It is made primarily from Sciaccarellu, a grape whose name in Corsican refers to the way the berries, when ripe, crunch under one’s teeth. You feel a similar sensation while sipping on the crushed, fermented result of those same berries: this vibrant, resinous rouge is reminiscent of succulent, freshly harvested red berries and pomegranate seeds. Its freshness and light hue belie its impressive structure and density, which largely come from Sciaccarellu’s counterpart in the blend, Niellucciu. Have you ever tasted another wine like this? Corsicans love goat meat, and Faustine would be a perfect match for Chris Lee’s goat chops. - Tom Wolf