Biancu Gentile was thought to have been extinct (which is why it can only have IGP status) until Yves Leccia found a small plot of it and decided to grow some. AFAIK, only some 3ha or so of this grape is now planted, with tiny amounts grown by Yves Leccia, Antoine Arena and Clos Canarelli. This wine smells a bit like some Rhone whites: waxy, spicy, very perfumed and floral. But unlike many Rhones, the scent, despite all these "heavy" aromas, is actually very refreshing. The palate has much weight, which again brings Rhone whites to mind, but nice and gentle acidity so it isn't like olive oil in texture (I must confess that I do find the olive oily texture of many white Rhones a bit too intense) but is both rich and refreshing. Maybe Albariño with a touch of oiliness is a more apt comparison than the Rhone with less oiliness? Oh well, it is a pretty unique wine organoleptically, too, and not just because of its rarity. And did I like it? Hell yes! I'd like to buy a case of it immediately.
Antoine Arena Patrimonio Morta Maïo 2010 - 100% Niellucciu; 13,5%
Oh my FSM, this was a lovely wine! The colour is fairly pale, but both the nose and palate have extraordinary intensity. It smells of cherries and petrichor. It is chewy and tannic and acidic and sour in a delightful way. Unending finish. It needed a couple hours in a decanter to become truly expressive, but once it did, it was fantastically moreish. Wonderful wine. There is apparently still some discussion as to whether or not this is the same grape as Sangiovese, but just from the aromas and textures I could believe that it is - though this island wine was much better than most of even the best Tuscans I have had!
