2021 Antoine-Marie Arena, "Carco" Patrimonio

The Arena name in Corsica carries the weight of generations. When Antoine Arena cleared the Carco vineyard in 1987, he wasn't just planting vines—he was establishing a legacy. The limestone soils he chose had never seen pesticides or fertilizers, and he resisted the siren call of international varieties when others were ripping out native grapes. Antoine’s son Antoine-Marie, after studying viticulture and completing stints in Burgundy and Provence, returned home to join the family domaine in 2004. By 2014, in true Corsican spirit of independence, the holdings were divided between Antoine and his sons. Each claimed their favorite parcels, with Antoine-Marie inheriting the crown jewel: Carco. Working this northeast-facing limestone amphitheater at the foot of Cap Corse, Antoine-Marie practices the same organic and biodynamic principles his father reveres. The vines, now 34 years old, dig deep into chalk, clay, and limestone—a trifecta of complexity that defines great terroir in this part