Clos Ornasca, Ajaccio Corsica 2018

92 points Wine & Spirits
"A blend of sciaccarellu and nielluccio, this comes from a 29-acre estate founded by Vincent Tola in 1995; today, his daughter, Laetitia, makes the wines, and her husband, Jean-Marie Manenti, works the vineyards (certified organic in 2020). Vinified entirely in stainless-steel tanks, it channels the island’s warmth in its smooth, silky texture and smoky red-berry flavors; at the same time, the wine is brisk, saline and herbal, with a transparency to its flavors that matches the light brick color. With a slight chill, it could match a grilled fish dish."

Vinous Reverie Notes
Clos Ornasca was founded in 1995 by Vincent Tola, a native Corsican who had relocated to mainland France, but always harbored a dream of working the land in his home country. His daughter Laetitia shared his vision and after staging in Burgundy and Australia, made her home in Ajaccio and has taken over winemaking duties. At a small 12 hectares, the vineyards are currently planted to Sciaccarellu, Nielluccio, Vermentino and Muscat (as well as Minustellu, a native varietal which she recently planted and/or grafted over a few rows). The Clos Ornasca (which translates to "born of gold" in Corsican) is aged in 100% stainless steel in order to preserve the varietal characteristics of the native grapes.