The family history of Clos Fornelli
A couple of passionate people
THEClos Fornelliis located in the charming village of Tallone in the heart of the massif of theCastagnicciaIn 2005,Josée Vanucci-CouloumereAfter spending 10 years at the tech giant IBM, Josée took over the management of the family estate. Her father had also inherited it from his parents. Josée manages the property with her husband Fabrice, who previously worked for a consulting firm. As the heir to the family legacy, Josée is determined to preserve theCorsican terroirsUnlike her elders, she decided to make wine from the grapes she grew. The couple divided the work distinctly:
- Josée takes care of all the technical management, the vineyard and the winemaking with the help of her father.
- Fabrice, for his part, manages general development, sales and packaging. He also helps out with the work in the winery.
A terroir with a strong personality
An ideal microclimate for native grape varieties
The 21 hectares of vines benefit from a microclimate that allows the grapes to reach full maturity under ideal conditions. Located on alluvial terraces, the vineyard enjoys rich soil. It is composed of clay mixed with gravel from the Bravone and schist resulting from the erosion of the massif of theCastagnicciaThis terroir, with its strong personality, gives the wines a great deal of character. Concerned about the environment and the protection of the terroir, the couple does not use chemical herbicides and relies on the principles ofbiodynamic agricultureIndeed, they notably use the lunar calendar, which takes into account the influence of the cycles. The grape varieties planted are indigenous:
- vermentinu
- Bianco Gentile
- Genovese
- sciaccarellu
- niellucciu
The oldest vines were planted more than 40 years ago; in particular, some old Sciaccarellu vines can be found.
Wines with character
A single-plot winemaking
This passionate couple takes a plot-by-plot approach to winemaking. Their goal is to showcase the unique character of each terroir and grape variety. The estate's wines reflect Josée and Fabrice's identity: they are vibrant and unadorned. The first step in winemaking is the harvest; during harvest, the grapes must be healthy and perfectly ripe. Then, for some wines, a very light sulfiting may be carried out, if necessary. All wines are made using a single varietal in stainless steel tanks, concrete tanks, egg-shaped tanks, or demi-muids. Josée favors the concrete egg-shaped tank for Vermentinu, which is harvested slightly underripe. This helps preserve the fruit's freshness. Josée's choices in winemaking are guided by her instinct; she develops a connection with her wine, which is still only a sketch in its early stages. Our winemaker's primary goal is to convey pleasure through her wines and to rediscover the sensation of tasting the fruit. The estate's wines are straightforward, appealing, and precise. They also showcase the finest expression of the rare Genovese grape variety.
