red grape · regional staple
Niellucciu
Corsica, France
Say it
nyeh·loo·choo
Corsican 'ucciu' ending voiced as '-choo'; contrast Italian 'Nielluccio' where final vowel is often reduced
On the palate
red cherrydried herbsvioletearthtobaccoblack olive
How you spot it blind: garrigue-scented red cherry with fine tannins and a coastal salt edge
The story
DNA analysis (Calò et al. 2004) confirmed Niellucciu is genetically identical to Sangiovese, likely reaching Corsica during Pisan or Genoese medieval rule.
Where it lives
Patrimonio AOC, Corsica · Vin de Corse AOC, Corsica
Shows up as
still redroséPatrimonio AOC
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