Category: Corsica

The 2019 IP blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine from Corsica, made with the Vermentino grape. The “IP” name comes from the Corsican words Invechjamentu Prolungatu – extended maturation. Biodynamic viticulture (both in the vineyards and the cellar). Limestone soil. Manual harvest, carefully selected grapes. Pressing after complete destemming. 48-72 hours of cold maceration. Temperature controlled fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Maturation on fine lees with battonage for two years (14 months in concrete vats). No clarification. Decanting after cold settling (naturally low temperature in the cellar in the winter). Clos Venturi is adding very little sulphites, only 15mg free sulphites. The sulphur that is used is a mineral sulphur, especially produced (jointly with five other vintners), much more pure than what is commonly used.

Straw colour. Complex aromas of white flowers, citrus fruit, wax, honey and some herbal and mineral notes.  Dry with medium acidity on the palate. A great Vermentino, which has the potential to be stored for some years.

TBM 90 points.

The 2020 Altare blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine blend made of Biancu Gentile, Genovese e Vermentino from Corsica, France. It owes its name to two plots of vineyards terraces that are shaped in the form of an altar. This vineyard is being worked on with horses, no machines. Manual harvest. Very low yield, only 28hl per hectare. The grapes undergo vinification separately in vats of 12hl with indigenous yeast. The blending takes place thereafter. Maturation in large barrels (foudre) during 14 to 18 months. No clarification, no filtering. 2.000 bottles made, according to Eric Mialhe who gave the explanations to me at the Gerstl tasting.

Straw colour. In the nose, complex aromas of citrus and other yellow fruit, with a floral hint, nice mineral notes. On the palate, the wine is dry, fresh – a medium acidity, round. The fruity aromas are very pleasant, the wine appears creamy and a bit spicy. Really great expression of its terroir.

TBM 91 points.

Foto credit: Comptoir des Millésimes.

The 2019 Chiesa Nera Blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine blend from Corsica, made from the grapes Biancu Gentile, Genovese e Vermentino. Limestone soil, south- southeast exposition. Manual harvest. Yield 30-35 hl per hectare. Biodynamic viticulture. Total destemming, followed by a cold maceration of 48 to 72 hours. Fermentation in egg-shaped concrete tanks, and based on autochthonous yeast. Maturation during 12 months in the concrete tank, on fine lees. Thereafter, further maturation during 4 to 8 months in the bottle. No clarification and no filtration of the wine.

This wine has a beautiful straw color. In the nose, you find aromas of white fruit, herbs and flowery notes, with hints of citric fruit and tangerines. Dense on the palate, with a wonderful freshness, this wine enchants with its play of the fruity notes. Very elegant wine. Tasted at the Gerstl autumn tasting in Sempach.

TBM 90 points

Foto credit: Comptoir des Millesimes

The 2021 Clos Venturi blanc is a white wine from Corsica, made with the Vermentino grape. Clos Venturi works with biodynamic principles in the vineyards and the cellar. Limestone soil. Manual harvest. Cold maceration during up to 72 hours. Temperature controlled fermentation with indigenous yeasts. 8-9 months maturation on fine lees. No clarification. Light filtration after decantation (natural cold settling of the wine in the cellar). Yield 35hl per hectare.

Straw color with slight greenish reflexes. In the nose, the wine shows aromas of citric fruit, pineapple and pear. Dry with medium acidity on the palate, long finish. Beautiful white wine.

TBM 88 points.

The 2021 Brama blanc Clos Venturi is a white wine from Corsica, made with biodynamic principles in the vineyards and the cellar. It is made with the Biancu Gentile grape, autochthonous of Corsica. The limestone soil gives the wine a nice freshness. The yield is only 30 hl per hectare. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete vats. Maturing 8 months on fine lees. No clarification, light filtration after natural cooling (cellar gets rather cold in the winter). Tasted at the Gerstl tasting on 23 October 2022.

Straw color. In the nose, yellow and citric fruit. On the palate, the wine is dry, with nice acidity, round and with good body and structure.

TBM 87 points.

The 2021 Clos Venturi 1769 was my first wine from Corsica in the Grand Tasting of Gerstl on 23 October 2022. I was lucky to meet the producer of Clos Venturi, Eric Mialhe, at this event. Clos Venturi is a winery on the island of Corsica, in the Mediterranean. They apply biodynamic principles. which strengthens the vines so that in hot and dry summer as in 2022, the vines are not stressed too much.

The 2021 Clos Venturi 1769 blanc is made with the Vermentino grape, which makes a very aromatic wine. Straw colour with slight greenish reflexes. In the nose, complex aromas of yellow fruit, quite impressive – apple, pear and quince come to mind. On the palate, the wine is dry, with medium acidity, round and well balanced.

TBM 86 points.