Our Rating
Corsica
Niellucciu
If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping wine by the sea in Corsica, here’s your shortcut. The 2021 “Cru Des Agriate” rosé is an easygoing but thoughtful bottle that brings just the right amount of sun, salt, and character to the table. Made by Domaine Giacometti in the wild northern reaches of Corsica, this bottle leans hard into the island’s native grapes and mineral-laced soils to produce a refreshingly honest expression of place. It’s not flashy, but that’s the charm—think of it as the wine equivalent of a linen shirt and sunburned shoulders.
Let’s get one thing out of the way: Corsican grapes aren’t your everyday varietals. The 2021 “Cru Des Agriate” is made up of 95% Niellucciu (pronounced knee-el-loo-cho) and 5% Sciaccarellu (sha-ka-REL-loo), two indigenous varieties that are cornerstones of Corsican wine but still relatively under the radar outside of France.
Niellucciu is often compared, sometimes controversially, to Sangiovese, and it behaves a bit like a sun-drenched cousin of the Tuscan grape. It buds early, brings good alcohol levels, and in rosé form, doesn’t fuss too much with deep color or heavy texture. Instead, it offers clarity, freshness, and the kind of acidity that makes a second glass almost mandatory.
Sciaccarellu is a bit more elusive in character—delicate, floral, and a bit spicy—but in this wine, it plays a supporting role, adding lift and aromatic flair to the blend. This tiny splash is just enough to round out the edges of the Niellucciu, bringing a whisper of perfume to an otherwise mineral-forward frame.
What makes these grapes special, especially in Patrimonio, is how they respond to the island’s granite soils and coastal climate. There’s an elemental, slightly wild edge to them—something hard to put into words but easy to recognize in the glass. You can taste the wind and stone.
Domaine Giacometti doesn’t exactly fit the mold of your standard French wine estate, and that’s part of its appeal. When the Giacometti family moved to the Agriates Desert in 1987—a scrubby, rugged slice of northern Corsica that looks more like Sardinia than Saint-Émilion—they were going against the grain. The land was harsh, remote, and totally off the radar for most winemakers. But Christian Giacometti saw potential, and over time, he coaxed vines and wines out of that granite terrain with a mix of stubbornness and vision.
Though the estate sits a few miles from the actual village of Patrimonio, it was still awarded appellation status—an unusual nod to both the terroir and the family’s commitment. These days, the winery is in the capable hands of Christian’s children, Sarah and Simon, who’ve built on their father’s work while nudging the wines in a slightly more precise, organically farmed direction.
With 26 hectares under vine, most of which are planted to native varieties, the Giacometti family is focused on wines that reflect the quiet intensity of the land rather than chase trends or scores. And while rosé might be their most approachable offering, it’s no afterthought—it’s part of a broader philosophy that values restraint, expression, and a deep respect for Corsican heritage.
Simon Giacometti and his sister Sarah weren’t necessarily groomed for the wine world. Their grandfather was a potter, their father ran a public works company, and their path to viticulture came more by osmosis than pedigree. But maybe that’s why their wines feel so grounded.
When they officially joined the domaine in 2006, they didn’t bring with them a wave of innovation for innovation’s sake. Instead, they doubled down on what their father had started: a commitment to organic farming, an openness to native grapes, and a deep belief in letting the land set the rhythm. Simon handles much of the cellar work these days, and his approach is rooted in minimal intervention. Fermentation happens naturally, stainless steel is favored for freshness, and aging is kept short and clean.
That might sound simple, but in practice, it takes a fine touch. You can’t hide behind oak or high extraction here. Every decision shows up in the glass. The result is a wine that feels relaxed but confident, expressive but never loud.
In the glass, this rosé pours a delicate salmon hue that looks like it was filtered through a Corsican sunset. It’s pale but bright, with that telltale clarity that suggests a fresh, clean fermentation and minimal manipulation in the cellar.
On the nose, it’s not shy—expect a pronounced bouquet that blends wet stone, graphite, and a saline edge with just-ripe melon. It’s the kind of aroma that makes you think of beach bonfires and sea spray more than fruit salad.
The first sip hits with that slate-driven minerality again, followed by flavors of cantaloupe, mandarin, lemon zest, lime, and a fleeting note of lychee that adds a little exotic curveball to the otherwise citrus-and-stone profile. The wine is dry, with medium acidity and alcohol sitting at a modest 12.5%, which makes it incredibly drinkable without being too breezy.
There’s no tannin to speak of, but the body is surprisingly structured for a rosé—medium across the board, with enough grip to stand up to food but plenty of softness to sip solo. The finish is long, clean, and quietly persistent. No fireworks, just a gentle fade of fruit and stone that lingers a bit longer than you expect.
This isn’t a flashy rosé and is certainly not sweet or floral. It’s mineral-driven, textural, and quietly complex—the kind of wine that asks for a second glass, not because it demands attention, but because it feels like summer done right.
The 2021 Patrimonio Rosé “Cru Des Agriate” is the kind of bottle that sneaks up on you. At first glance, it’s just a well-priced Corsican rosé. But spend a little time with it, and you start to notice the layers—the minerality, the subtle tension, the restrained fruit. It’s refreshing without being too crisp, aromatic without being perfumed, and clean without feeling stripped.
For $25, it delivers a sense of place that’s hard to find at this price point. It’s a wine that feels rooted—both literally and figuratively—in its island home, shaped by granite soils, salty air, and a winemaking family that knows how to let nature do the talking.
Whether you’re pairing it with grilled seafood, herbed chicken, or just a patch of sun and a good book, this rosé will rise to the occasion without stealing the show. It’s a quiet companion to warm days and slow dinners—a reminder that some of the best wines don’t need to shout to be heard.
Drink it now, preferably outside. No need to decant, no need to overthink. Just chill, pour, and enjoy the ride.
France
Corsica
Niellucciu
12.5%
Simon Giacometti
N/A
NOW
Domaine Giacometti
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