Giudicelli Rouge 2019

Corsican native Muriel Giudicelli learned her craft at small wineries across France and under the mentorship of Antoine Arena – one of Corsica’s most important vignerons, famed for his pioneering, terroir-driven natural wines. In 1996, Muriel leapt at the chance to take over 5ha of prime, old vines from a retiring winemaker and launch her own domaine on the island.

Muriel now works 10ha of vines alongside her husband Stéphane in the Campo Gallo sub-region of Patrimonio – an area noted for its pockets of green and red clay, granite, schist, and limestone, as well as being on course to become the first entirely organically farmed appellation in Europe. Muriel’s vineyards have been certified biodynamic since 2012.

Domaine Giudicelli produces wines in tiny quantities from Corsica’s traditional grape varieties. Made with gentle vinification methods and long elevages, they show remarkable vitality and perfectly judged ripeness. 

When we met Muriel, we were blown away by the mineral precision and sumptuous texture of the latest release of her Vermentinu and stunned at how well it ages. Her elegant, structured Niellucciu is full of freshness and floral lift and, although already charming, develops wonderful complexity and finesse with time in bottle.

Interest in Corsica’s wine landscape is skyrocketing. With Muriel’s tireless vineyard work and brilliant winemaking long been essential as a hallmark of the best of classic Patrimonio wines, Domaine Giudicelli’s bottles have become firm favourites among sommeliers in Paris. These are now among the island’s most sought-after wines. 

Brooding with sweet red-black fruit and spice – petals and herbs showing with air. Fleshy in texture with fine, structured tannins for long ageing.