Corsican weather was both a blessing and a curse for this year’s harvest. No official analysis yet, but with an early harvest and vinification well on its way, specialists agree on their first impressions of the millesime.
Bastia, December 2017 – 2017 was one of those years. Vineyards had to face tough yet beneficial conditions throughout the season. After being subjected to late frosts at the end of spring, vine stocks faced a very dry summer. Lots of sunlight, very little water. The island saw almost no rain from May to September. A heatwave sat through all of August, giving temperatures ranging from 105F to 85F.
As a result, the harvest came 2 to 3 weeks early with higher and faster levels of maturation than usual. The only downside: general volumes are about 15% lower than usual with vineyards producing 5% to 40% less depending on location. Harvest volumes have been around 370,000-375,000 hL the past two years.
Tasting Notes
With a more complete maturation process and earlier harvest, the millesime is promising.
Corsican Wine Board Director Bernard Sonnet declared, “Although it is still quite early to offer a documented analysis, the sanitary quality of the harvest confines to absolute perfection, thanks to this summer’s low levels of rain. We also observe a great, crisp freshness and delightful aromas in this year’s vintage.”
About Corsican Wines Board (CIV):
The CIV is the Corsican marketing board in charge of regional policy in terms of research, quality, and economy as well as marketing and promotional actions on regional, national and international levels. 120 privately owned wineries and 4 cooperatives produce 375,000 hectoliters of AOP & IGP, of which include about 70% rosé wines.
