Our domaine
The birth of Clos Fornelli
It was with Fabrice that we made a decisive turn for the Estate by creating our first cuvées in 2005 (until then, the grapes were entrusted to a cooperative). Our duo was complementary: Fabrice graduated from a top business school, and I am an agronomy engineer.
We renovated an old cellar on the property and equipped it to be able to vinify.
THE FIRST 100% SIACCARELLU RED WINE FROM HAUTE-CORSE
From our very first vintage, we sketched a cuvée that would become La Robe d'Ange and would probably be the first 100% Sciaccarellu red cuvée from Upper Corsica: at that time, we were swimming against the tide of the style of red wines produced in the department (full-bodied wines, predominantly Niellucciu, Syrah, Grenache) by choosing to vinify an old parcel of Sciaccarellu. This cuvée struggled to establish itself in its production area during the first years of its life: during the 'labeling' sessions, the AOP approval often eluded us because the wine from Sciaccarellu was deemed too 'lean' and too 'light', the very spicy notes of Sciaccarellu, its natural acidity disturbed the tasting juries of the appellation area.
We use Corsican grape varieties only in our cuvées
We therefore chose to use only Corsican grape varieties in our cuvées. The few hectares of Syrah present on the Estate are not used in the composition of the wines. They are used in a custom-made cuvée for trading. Therefore, we vinify grapes from the vineyards of Niellucciu, Sciaccarellu, and Vermentinu planted by my father.
Then we gradually reintroduce old rare grape varieties that disappeared and were rediscovered by the CRVI: Biancu Gentile, Genovese, Minustellu initially. Codivarta, Rimenese, Paga Debitti, Vintaghju, Carcaghjolu, and other grape varieties follow... By being reborn on our Estate, they contribute to the preservation of insular wine diversity. And some of these grape varieties are probably assets to help us adapt to climate change.
The plots of Clos Fornelli
The clos Fornelli consists of plots all grouped together within the same geographical unit. Hedges and old stone walls delineate this space. We carefully preserve these hedges, made up of trees and large shrubs.