Description

It was a Saturday afternoon at V Wine Salon when I can across the Domaine Comte Abbatucci wine. It was sold to us as a Rhone Blanc style and the vintage was 2013. I tell you what, that was a real revelation. These are sensation wines. They are rare, and not priced for everyday drinking, so I am slowly working through the range. Anytime you get the opportunity to drink a Domaine Comte Abbatucci wine, take it!

Domaine Comte Abbatucci Diplomate d’Empire – Il Cavalière Don Jacques-Pascal Abbatucci 2017, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.

Domaine Comte Abbatucci is run by Jean-Charles Abbatucci, a direct descendant of General Jean-Charles Abbatucci a hero of the French Revolution and comrade in arms of another local hero, Napoléon Bonaparte.

Domaine Comte Abbatucci is in the AOC of Ajaccio on the island of Corsica. The vineyard is 18ha and consist of indigenous varieties that the Abbatucci family saved in the 1960s. The farm runs using biodynamics.

White, Rose and Red wines are made at Domaine Comte Abbatucci. They make The Faus

tine range are a stunning entry point but the ‘collection’ wines are something else entirely.

Domaine Comte Abbatucci Diplomate d’Empire – Il Cavalière Don Jacques-Pascal Abbatucci 2017 Winery Notes

This cuvée is named for a childhood friend of Napoléon Bonaparte, who served under the Empire and spent several years as a diplomat in Naples. He was faithful to the end, and fought at Napoléon’s side in the Battle of Waterloo.

Made from an illustrative blend of 37% Vermentino, 20% Rossola Bianca (Scimiscià), 19% Bianco Gentile, 14% Genovèse (Scimiscià), 10% Brustiano, all planted in the early 1960s in granite based soils.

Whole-bunch pressed, settled for 24-48 hours and then fermented in old 600 L demi-muids. Matured on full lees for 9 months, then assembled in tank and matured for a further 2 months. Bottled with a light fining and filtration only when necessary.

‘This cuvée seduces with its pale yellow color. The nose reveals ripe yellow fruits, exotic fruits and evokes a whiff of scents of the maquis [the ‘garrigue’ of Corsica]. The natural freshness of this wine gives it a lot of power and length in the mouth.’ Jean-Charles Abbatucci, Winemaker.

French Wine

The land that so many New World (not European) wine producers look to emulate. To generalise about French wine, I would say it is savoury, lighter-bodied wines. They are the definition of elegant, complex. There are many styles, though. And there is a French wine for every palate. They lead the world in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy. Sparkling Wine in Champagne. Cabernet and Merlot in Bordeaux. Syrah(Shiraz) and Grenache in the Rhone Valley. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris in Alsace. Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley. Gamay in Beaujolais.

Wine

Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.

The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.

Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.

The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.

White Wine

It is interesting to know that you can make white wine from almost any grape. The colour comes from the skins, and if there is no contact, there is no colour. White wines tend to be delicate, perfumed, higher in acid and lower in alcohol. It seems for this and many other reasons, it is hard to make an incredibly impressive white wine. But those that have mastered the art are indeed some of the best winemakers in the world.

It is a falsehood to think that white wine does not age as well as red wine. But it is correct that white wine, as a rule, doesn’t age for as long.

The Wine Depository

I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.