Domaine Comte Abbatucci - Ministre Impérial 2023
93/100
RVF
"The estate's signature wine!"
“A garnet-hued red of medium intensity, with a brilliant sheen. As always, the seven indigenous grape varieties are vinified and then aged in oak barrels.” After aeration, Ministre Impérial reveals a nuanced, precise profile reminiscent of wild blackberries. The texture is gradually refining, yet it bears the sunny character of the vintage; the power is there, and the wine’s structure is very delicate. It will be very interesting to revisit this wine after a few years of aging.” (Le Guide RVF 2026)
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Eye
Red color with intense garnet highlights
Nose
Powerful and complex, evoking the scents of Corsica with hints of ripe, tart red berries (redcurrant and blackcurrant) as well as more subtle aromas of aromatic herbs
Palate
Full-bodied with good length and subtle oak notes, it features the estate’s characteristic minerality; the tannins are very elegant, and the long, complex finish is supported by notes of ripe fruit.
Serve
Decant at 16°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink before
2038
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy it with grilled meats, stuffed lamb shoulder, or a platter of Corsican cheeses…
Bettane & Desseauve
Rated estate (2020 guide): 4 stars (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)
About the estate:
In this historic heartland of the Ajaccio vineyards—where the unique collection of old local white grape varieties has highlighted the moral and cultural imperative to diversify the grape varieties across all of Corsica—Jean-Charles Abbatucci practices impeccable viticulture with infectious generosity. The recent vintages possess the suppleness, naturalness, and smoothness expected of them, and have made significant strides in consistency thanks to the close collaboration between the owner and a remarkable consulting oenologist, Emmanuel Gagnepain. The Faustine cuvée shines with pure finesse, and the grand cuvées—Collection, Ministre, Général, and Diplomate—offer the refined complexity of their pioneering blend. New cuvées—Monte-Bianco, Alte-Rosso, and Valle-di-Nero—are beginning to be produced, but the estate did not send them for tasting. That will be for next year.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2025 guide) 93/100
Rated estate (2023 guide) 3*Stars (These represent the pinnacle of French winemaking. The finest terroirs cultivated by the greatest winemakers. Tasting their wine is always a magical experience)
About the wine:
A garnet-red color of medium intensity, with good brilliance. As always, the seven indigenous grape varieties are vinified and then aged in oak in demi-muids. After aeration, Ministre Impérial reveals a nuanced, precise profile reminiscent of wild blackberries. The texture is gradually refining, yet it bears the sunny character of the vintage; the power is there, and the wine’s structure is very delicate. It will be very interesting to revisit this wine after a few years of aging.
About the estate:
The history of this estate began in the 20th century with a visionary, Antoine Abbatucci, the founder of this vineyard nursery, a true repository of native Corsican grape varieties. Jean-Charles Abbatucci, Antoine’s son, has taken the estate to the next level (mass selections, rigorous biodynamic practices, rootstocks adapted to the soil and climate, etc.). The entry-level wines are remarkable; in the magnificent blends, each grape variety contributes its own aromas, freshness, body, or texture: the wines are smooth and refined, thanks to the rejection of excessive intervention, and the aging process has been refined through the use of large oak casks and concrete eggs.
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