2017 Antoine-Marie Arena, San Giovanni Rouge, VdF

Antoine-Marie Arena utilizes organic viticulture and spontaneous fermentations to champion the rare endemic varieties Carcaghjolu-Neru and Morescone, emphasizing a transparent, low-interventionist style. Sourced from clay-limestone parcels across the Morta Maio and San Giovanni vineyards, the fruit is vinified with a brief five-day maceration and aged for six months in concrete to preserve its primary mineral character. The 2017 vintage, characterized by persistent drought and high thermal pressure, was navigated through precise harvesting to maintain the variety’s signature nerve and acid retention. Structurally, the wine presents a silky mid-palate transparency and fine-grained tannins, avoiding the over-extraction and heavy weight common to solar years. This Rouge remains defined by its verticality and saline-inflected finish, reflecting the structural poise afforded by Patrimonio’s calcareous terroir.