Domaine Vico Le Bois du Cerf Rose 2021
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This rose comes from south and southeast-facing parcels with schist soils. The grapes are harvested at night, directly pressed and aged on its lees in stainless steel tanks. It has a lovely pale (but not too pale) pink color, with plenty of fruit and refreshing acidity.
Its ripe red berry flavors are a joy to drink, especially in rosé weather and with a cheese and charcuterie plate.
Blend: 70% Sciaccarellu, 30% Grenache
Domaine Vico, the only vineyard located in Corsica’s interior, is located a one-hour drive south of St-Florent. The vineyard setting is magnificent, between 300 and 400m in altitude, with nearby peaks rising to 2,200m. In the summer growing season, daytime temperatures can reach 35°C, while at night they can drop to below 15°C. Domaine Vico has two parcels of vines. The 80ha around Ponte Leccia, which has two distinct soil types (one section, river pebbles and sandy-clay, the other, mostly clay and limestone, interspersed with schist), is planted with Vermentinu, Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, Grenache and Syrah. The domaine’s Clos Venturi parcel is 5km away, 100m higher up the mountain, and located on schist-laden slopes with a south, southeastern exposure. This is at the limit of the winemaking zone in Corsica; winter temperatures at this altitude can drop to -10°C at night. The effect of this terroir, along with lower yields, hand-harvesting in multiple passages, and more careful winemaking is startling
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
A mountainous, Mediterranean island covered in vineyards, Corsica, while closer to Italy in proximity and history, is today under France's political jurisdiction. The island is home to a mix of Italian and French grapes, typically planted at high elevations. Niellucciu (Sangiovese), Sciacarellu (Mammolo), and Vermentino (Rolle) are the main grape varieties of Corsica, and account for about two thirds of all Corsican wines produced.