Domaine Comte Abbatucci - Monte Bianco 2023

Bettane & Desseauve

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

About the wine:

Carmine red, low in tannins, brilliant. A bouquet of stone fruits, very refined, combining purity and power; the fruit notes evoke ripe cherries and raspberries, with a touch of myrtle and spices; the oak aging is well integrated into the Sciaccarellu. The palate is warm, with a long finish, expressing the finesse of the grape variety, the energy of the granite soils, and a complex interplay of flavors. 93-95/100

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.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The Monte Bianco 2023 could well be considered the perfect wine of our tasting. It is a pure Sciaccarellu, grown on granite soils and enhanced by aging that began in 2008. With this 2023 vintage, Jean-Charles Abbatucci has created a wine of immense delicacy and great complexity, with notes of white and red fruits on the nose, dominated by kirsch and cooked strawberries. On the palate, the wine is powerful yet of unparalleled finesse, supported by subtle, refined tannins that structure the palate. The mouthfeel is harmonious and full-bodied, with a level of purity rarely achieved. The aromas lean toward lychee and white pepper, and the wine lingers long on the palate. It will gain aromatic depth after 23 years in the bottle.