by Patrick Ogle
Marestagno comes from the home island of Napoleon, Corsica and is made of a little-known grape, Sciaccarellu. It also has a price tag of about $9. Because this is a strange grape you might thing that means it is a strange wine--but the funny thing is about "strange" grapes; the wines they produce are not, by definition, outside the "normal" smells and tastes you find in "normal" wines. Sometimes they are but not always.
This wine, on first sniff, seems to have some herbal qualities. These are less apparent in the taste but they are lurking there. The fruit reminds of many warm-weather French roses. It has a red-fruit strawberry/rasberry taste but with a crisp acidity. There is nothing odd or objectionable in Marestagno. In fact, it calls to mind a slightly less fruity Provence wine but it might be a bit more food friendly. It has something of a bitter, brambly finish but this only becomes really apparent as it warms quite a bit (what can I say, I was drinking on a hot day). There is a little bit of pepperiness here too.
By several accounts Sciaccarellu is a tough skinned grape that can be difficult to grow. Mildew attacks it. It is particular about the soils it will grow in. It appears to be Italian in origin (but I couldn't find conclusive evidence from anywhere I consider 100 percent reliable). It is usually a blending grape for red wines. If it is grown outside of Corsica I couldn't find where.
Corsica has a large number of "surprising" grapes that are well worth a look and a taste. The grapes are often only found on the island, even when there origin may be elsewhere. Some are among the rarest grapes grown commercially anywhere. More on these soon.
Marestagno comes from the home island of Napoleon, Corsica and is made of a little-known grape, Sciaccarellu. It also has a price tag of about $9. Because this is a strange grape you might thing that means it is a strange wine--but the funny thing is about "strange" grapes; the wines they produce are not, by definition, outside the "normal" smells and tastes you find in "normal" wines. Sometimes they are but not always.
This wine, on first sniff, seems to have some herbal qualities. These are less apparent in the taste but they are lurking there. The fruit reminds of many warm-weather French roses. It has a red-fruit strawberry/rasberry taste but with a crisp acidity. There is nothing odd or objectionable in Marestagno. In fact, it calls to mind a slightly less fruity Provence wine but it might be a bit more food friendly. It has something of a bitter, brambly finish but this only becomes really apparent as it warms quite a bit (what can I say, I was drinking on a hot day). There is a little bit of pepperiness here too.
By several accounts Sciaccarellu is a tough skinned grape that can be difficult to grow. Mildew attacks it. It is particular about the soils it will grow in. It appears to be Italian in origin (but I couldn't find conclusive evidence from anywhere I consider 100 percent reliable). It is usually a blending grape for red wines. If it is grown outside of Corsica I couldn't find where.
Corsica has a large number of "surprising" grapes that are well worth a look and a taste. The grapes are often only found on the island, even when there origin may be elsewhere. Some are among the rarest grapes grown commercially anywhere. More on these soon.
RSS Feed