Diplomate d’Empire Blanc VdF 2017

Wine Description for Diplomate d’Empire Blanc VdF 2017 by Abbatucci

Colour & Appearance

Very pale gold with subtle green reflexes – a visual promise of freshness and elegance.

Nose

Initially closed and mysterious, this wine only opens for the patient. With time, chamomile flowers, gorse and lemon blossom unfold, followed by sun-ripened peaches, melons and mirabelle plums. Further aeration – best achieved through decanting – reveals apricots, grilled oranges and fine notes of anise and pine needles. The aromatic complexity of the Corsican maquis runs through the entire bouquet.

Palate

Impressively silky and creamy on the attack, with a density that immediately fills the mouth. The ripe yellow fruit – banana, quince, candied lemon – combines with peppery bitter notes and a distinctive umami accent. Despite the generous 14% alcohol and ripe fruit fullness, the wine maintains remarkable freshness and tension. The saline minerality lends it structure and precision.

Finish

Excellent length with persistent saline minerality and a hint of blonde tobacco. The balance between ripeness and freshness carries through to the final moment.

Grape Variety & Vinification

An ambitious cuvée of Vermentinu (Vermentino) with the rare autochthonous varieties Brustianu, Biancu Gentile, Genovese and Rossola Bianca. Whole-bunch pressing, static pre-clarification, spontaneous fermentation in 600-litre demi-muids. Nine months ageing on full lees, followed by careful assemblage and further maturation before bottling. Only 4,000 bottles produced.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Scallops with clementines and soured cream, risotto with chanterelles, pan-fried chicken fillets with apricots, flaked almonds and thyme. The wine also harmonises beautifully with aged hard cheese or complex fish dishes.

Special Features

A wine that deserves patience and attention – decanting is essential. With this Diplomate, Jean-Charles Abbatucci proves that Corsica can produce world-class white wines: intense, elegant, mineral-driven and of impressive length.