Antoine Arena Patrimonio Rouge Carco

Patrimonio, France

Corsica's most sought-after natural red wine — Antoine Arena's biodynamic Nielluccio (Sangiovese) from the limestone Carco parcel. Wild cherry, dried herbs (maquis: rosemary, thyme, cistus), iron mineral, violet, and the haunting Mediterranean depth that makes Patrimonio unlike any other Sangiovese-based wine. Develops magnificently over 8-10 years. The definitive expression of what Corsican Nielluccio can achieve in the right hands.

Pairing intelligence

• main: The island's traditional veal preparation and its natural Nielluccio — the wine's wild cherry and maquis herb character bridges the braised veal's Mediterranean depth; olives' bitterness mirrors the wine's mineral; rosé wine in the braise creates a lighter base that allows the Nielluccio to lead
• cheese: The island's aged sheep cheese and its most celebrated red wine — Arena's wild cherry and maquis herb character bridges the brebis's rich sheep fat; chestnut honey mirrors the wine's sweetness; fig jam bridges the dark fruit; maquis herbs amplify the wine's herbal complexity