Close to the remote village of Tarabucetta, outside of Figari on the southern tip of Corsica, Yves Canarelli has put his winery and the wines of Corsica on the world stage. A former student of economics who turned to enology, Yves is both intellectual and an ardent traditionalist. Since taking over the family domaine in 1993, he has championed the replanting of native Corsican varietals.

The appellation Corse Figari lies along a plateau just inland from the coast, where grapes have been farmed since the 5th century B.C. Though Figari is regarded as the most ancient growing region of Corsica, it has taken visionaries like Yves having the courage to rip out entire vineyards of foreign varietals before Corsican wines have finally received the recognition they deserve. While the INAO remains slow to approve bottlings of some of the oldest of these heirloom varietals, often reducing them to the inferior “Vin de France” appellation, Yves Canarelli staunchly defends the history of Figari’s terroir.

The granite and red alluvial soil at Clos Canarelli is rich in minerals. However, the wind from the Gulf of Figari creates challenging growing conditions: while it serves as a terrific natural antiseptic for the vines, it can also dry the soil out easily. Yves’ choice to convert the domaine to both organic and biodynamic viticulture has made it possible for his wines to display an unusual freshness, complexity, and aromatic intensity that others in Figari have been unable to achieve. In the cellar, Yves only uses indigenous yeasts, and prefers slow, deliberate, precise fermentations, and leaves his reds unfiltered. He also enjoys experimenting with egg-shaped cement tanks (modern-day amphorae) and whole cluster fermentations. Yves wines are precise, finely chiselled and superlative examples of the unique terroir of Figari. Few growers achieve wines of such poise. We are thrilled to be able to offer them to you.