Wine Review of 2017 Domaine d’Alzipratu Cuvée ‘Pumonte’ Calvi Blanc, Corsica, France
Score: 90/100 points
Domaine Alzipratu is a winery located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the town of Calvi in the north-west of the French Corsica island in the Mediterranean Sea.
The estate was founded in the 1960’s by Baron Henry Louis de La Grange, the then owner of the Convent of Alzipratu. The domaine was at that time run by Maurice Acquaviva before it was taken over by his son Pierre and his wife Cécilia.
The vineyards cover 40 hectares (100 acres) split in 2 different parts. The first vineyard area is located north of the convent, near Zilia, and the 2d 10 km west of the village of Calenzana, in the upper Figarella valley.
Vineyards are planted primarily with the traditional Corsican and Southern France grape varieties: Niellucciu, Sciacarellu, Grenache, Syrah, and Vermentinu.
Alzipratu’s Pumonte range (a red and a white wine, see the red wine review further down below) is made from vineyards in the locality Pumonte, a hill exposed to the west at the foot of the circus of Bonifatu.
This location is the source of a particular soil composition, made up of primarily of eroded granite.
The altitude here helps tempering the excesses of the summer temperatures and preserving the freshness of the flavors.
The Pumonte White is made from 2 vineyard blacks covering 3 hectares of Vermentinu vines. The grapes were harvested at optimum ripeness levels in the first week of September. After 3 weeks of fermentation, the wine is stirred daily to increase contact with the lees.
So, how Good is Alzipratu Pumonte White Wine?
Let’s dig into it below…
Overall Review Notes & Tasting Impressions
With a bright shiny lemon-yellow color, slightly pale but with golden hues, this Corsica white looks like a refreshing white with some body to it, in its appearance.
The nose is, in fact, rather discrete and a little shy.
Subtle floral notes of white paddock flowers, lily and delicate touches of fresh apricot make for an elegantly tamed aromatic profile.
The real revelation and therefore somewhat of the surprise after such a shy nose, is the explosion of flavors one experiences on the palate.
On an oily body with a crisp and shiny acidity coated in a sensation of delicate sweetness, vibrant and pungent flavors of apricot and peach juice literally burst on your taste buds as you take your first sip.
It’s juicy and salivating, as gorgeous jasmine and acacia honey notes invade enthusiastically your mouth, while hints of white pepper and orange blossom add to the frantic floral fruitiness.
I wanted to recognize traits of Viognier in there, from the pungent stonefruit characters (peach and apricot), but also the sweet richness of Grenache Blanc on the palate, associated with the generous floral expression of a Muscat.
But no, all this goodness comes naturally from the single Vermentinu (aka Vermentino or Rolle) varietal!
A gorgeous and exciting white wine. One to drink nonchalantly on a warm sunny afternoon or evening. But also one to drink on a delicate entrée dish, seafood platter, or a warming cheese fondue in winter, just to recall how generous and comforting the sun of Corsica can be.
A zesty, vibrant, opulent and stimulating tasting experience Pumonte white delivers…
Enjoy 🙂
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