Domaine Vico Corse Elegant(E) Vin Naturel 2022 750ml

My own hesitation to throw my hat into the Corsican import ring did not stem from a lack of appreciation for this region’s wines. Instead, as Corsican wine prices are notoriously high, and I know and respect the work of the other existing (and pioneering) importers, I just wasn’t sure I could offer the same value from Corsica as I strive to from all the other French regions. But, always up for a travel and food/wine adventure, and wanting to take my salespeople on a little side jaunt as a break from the intense tasting and meeting producers that fill our days on our trips to France, I booked a Corsica break as part of our 2018 trip. Once there, I was pleased to discover that there were still a few not-yet-imported producers making excellent wines at prices I could stand behind. And that is how I came to know Emmanuel Venturi, our first Corsican producer, from the northeastern mountains around the village of Ponte Leccia. Their location is interesting because it is the only Corsican vineyard that lies far from the sea. It sits in the middle of the island, about an hour south of Bastia and a couple hours northeast of Ajaccio, nestled in the foothills of some high mountain peaks. The producer is also interesting in that he owns two domaine several kilometers apart, which make very different wines. Jean Vico, whose family produced wines for several generations, originally planted the domaine’s vineyards in 1901. In 1987 Jean-Marc Venturi purchased the property, replanted some of the vineyards and began improving the quality of the wine. At the end of the nineties, Emmanuel Venturi began working with his dad after studying winemaking on the island and doing some internships abroad. Domaine Vico covers 46 hectares, planted with local varieties Vermentinu, Niellucciu and Sciaccarellu, along with Grenache and Syrah.