2023 Le Clos Blanc, Clos Venturi

• Style: Mineral-driven Corsican Vermentinu
• Taste: Tropical stone fruit, citrus snap, white blossom, herbaceous lift
• Food: Shellfish, grilled fish, salads, lighter poultry
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, aperitivo
• Serve: Chilled, 8–10°C

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Pale straw with green glints, this Vermentinu announces its mineral spine immediately. Tropical pineapple and ripe citrus—tangerine, grapefruit—mingle with white blossom and herbal snap. The structure is taut with acidity, yet generous in fruit; the balance between tension and aromatic depth is what makes it worth buying. Bone dry, 13.5% ABV, a wine built for the table rather than the glass alone.

The Winery — Clos Venturi

Manu Venturi and his father Jean-Marc separated this 28-hectare vineyard from Domaine Vico after identifying the potential of ancient sandstone and basalt soils in northeast Corsica, positioned at 400 metres surrounded by forest and mountain. Certified organic and biodynamic, the estate is worked by horse to protect soil structure, with sheep, chickens and beehives fostering natural fertility and biodiversity. Yields are deliberately kept low. The 2023 vintage faced spring frosts, flowering rain and record July heat, yet these 45-year-old vines ripened superbly; hand-harvested grapes underwent gentle destemming and pressing, then a 48-to-72-hour pre-fermentation soak. Fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel with wild yeasts was followed by eight to nine months' maturation on fine lees, building texture and aromatic depth without oak. Bottled with minimal intervention.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Grilled fish is the obvious match: sea bass, sole or anything simply prepared with lemon and olive oil will sing. Shellfish—mussels, clams, scallops—as well as lighter poultry dishes and salads dressed with vinaigrette all complement this wine's taut acidity and stony grip. It's equally at home as an aperitivo or centrepiece to a Sunday lunch or date night. Chill to 8–10°C. Explore the rest of our Corsica selection and wider France range—this is Vermentinu at its most characterful.