8/8/26 - 

Patricia and Jean-Baptiste Ferrandi of Clos U Suale are part of an exciting wave of new winemakers in Corsica who are making the most of the island’s unique terroir to craft elegant and expressive wines that showcase some of the region’s local varietals. Based in Patrimonio, on the northern tip of the island just below the Cap Corse Peninsula, they primarily work with Niellucciu and Vermentinu along with small amounts of Grenache, Muscat Petits Grains and Ugni Blanc. The terrain is rugged and mountainous with soils of limestone and schist, with a Mediterranean climate that is kept in check by cool coastal breezes. They started making wine around 2020 after rehabilitating some of Jean-Baptiste’s family’s land, which had gone fallow since the Second World War and was once planted to vines and fruit trees. The terraced vineyards are cut into the hillsides and plowed by horse, and all farming is done according to biodynamic principles. Winemaking is hands-off but intentional, using native yeasts for fermentation and no additions aside from a small amount of sulfur for the whites. With the help of their son Vincent they do all the work by hand, farming about 5 hectares of land on the eastern side of the appellation just outside of the city of Patrimonio. For being a relatively new operation the wines are incredibly precise and full of energy, showing their deep respect for the land and attention to detail in the cellar. While just a couple of vintages in, they already seem to have hit their stride and we are thrilled to bring the beautiful wines of Clos U Suale to the U.S. for the first time and excited to see how they continue to evolve!

We first met Patricia on a trip to Montpellier in 2025, at one of the smaller wine fairs organized by a group of women winemakers. At the time she only had two wines with her, but the quality was evident from the first taste. This past year in February we returned and were able to taste the full lineup alongside both Patricia and Jean-Baptiste. Their two whites, while both made of 100% Vermentinu, are quite different in style but equally compelling. The 2025 Folie à Deux Blanc is bright and snappy while the 2024 Simbiosi Blanc shows more savory elements and depth. Both have a wonderful balance of texture and freshness, with a salty mineral core and distinct Mediterranean vibe. The 2024 Inseme is a singular and unique wine, made up of Vermentinu along with Muscat Petits Grains and Ugni Blanc from a vineyard that Jean-Baptiste and Patricia lease with vines ranging upwards of 80 years-old on chalky limestone soils. The grapes are co-planted and macerated together, resulting in a textured and complex wine that sits somewhere between a classic white and deeper orange wine. If you were to pick one wine that perfectly captures the Mediterranean flavor, the 2025 Rusulinu Rosé might be it. Made up of 100% Niellucciu (considered genetically identical to Sangiovese but with its own unique Corsican personality), it is salty, fresh and vibrant with delicate strawberry fruit and, again, that beautiful texture. The reds are, like the whites, similar in makeup but very distinct, with the 2025 Folie à Deux Rouge offering big energy and freshness while the 2024 Simbiosi Rouge is a bit more reserved and contemplative, both with the characteristic bit of wild, gamey rusticity and complex bouquet of spice that often comes through in Niellucciu. These are wines that can fit any occasion and show great balance, with fine tannins and lifted acidity. For a new producer in Corsica’s oldest appellation, these are wonderfully elegant and composed wines that allow the land and the character of the Mediterranean to truly shine through. We hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

-Jeff DiLorenzo

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