The domaine Sant Armettu and its wines from Sartène with strong personality

Sant Armettu is a Corsican domaine that produces numerous cuvées of red, white, and rosé wine in AOP Corse Sartène and IGP Ile de Beauté. Gilles Seroin, a winemaker of great talent, crafts (now with his children Jeanne and Guillaume) increasingly sought-after wines for their local specificities, particularly the old endemic grape varieties from Corsica that he masters wonderfully. A superb winemaker and fine producer (in tanks, large casks, demi-muids, and barrels depending on the grape varieties, aging time, and complexity of the cuvées), Gilles Seroin produces an impressive range of micro-parcel wines from classic or endemic grape varieties, each cuvée being tailored in color (red, white, rosé) and concentration to a mode of tasting (from simple "glou-glou" to enjoy chilled in summer to the great cuvées for aging designed to accompany fine dining).

Sant Armettu is located in the southwest of Corsica, in Olmeto. It spans 40 hectares. The cultivation is done according to responsible and environmentally friendly practices: organic farming, without herbicides, without chemical fertilizers. By 2026, nearly the entire range will be certified organic.

Which Sant Armettu wine to buy?

The cuvée Mino perfectly fulfills its role as the flagship wine of the domaine Sant Armettu. Both light and fruity, it allows for a simple introduction to the domaine (and Corsican wines in general, by the way). Next, the Rosumarinu pairs perfectly with a simple meal and does not need to age to be appreciated. It immediately captivates with its aromas of potpourri and wilted rose (for the red) and its fresh opulence (for the white).

The more elaborate and longer-aged cuvées take over: the Corsican wine lover will discover in Myrtus the complexity and finesse that a great Corsican wine can achieve, meticulously blended and aged to please immediately, both on the nose and palate. Myrtus red (a blend of sciaccarellu, minustrellu, and grenache - elegant - what character!) and Myrtus white (mainly from vermentinu, both fresh and aromatic) also age very well in the cellar and improve over time.

The great cuvées for long aging, more structured, are Burghese, a selection of the best barrels of Myrtus made during aging, and L'Ermite, crafted from the finest (and oldest) vines of the sciaccarellu grape variety.

The sciaccarellu is perhaps the most emblematic of Corsica; its color is very light, close to that of a pinot noir, and its elegance and depth on the palate are unmatched. The young vines are indeed present at 100% in the Rosumarinu rosé, and at 50% in the Rosumarinu red.

Finally, a specific range of cuvées "mono grape" is crafted from the various experimental plantings of the domaine, and each grape variety has its own cuvée. Our favorite is Elegante, which could be called the "Corsican grenache". Its sandy terroir gives it a unique finesse. Its opulence and softness make it our favorite "pleasure/price", especially after a few years of patience.

The Mino rosé is best enjoyed well chilled in summer, as an aperitif and with simple meals. The other rosé wines from the domaine are more intended for moderate aging and fine dining for perfect pairings with exquisite local cuisine, not just in summer!

Contact us to find out which cuvée to buy based on your expectations and culinary habits, whether to wait for the new vintage or choose an older one. We know all the wines we select. Naturally, the great cuvées of Sant Armettu are produced in very limited quantities, and their availability throughout the year is sometimes not possible despite our efforts to always refine several vintages in stock.

Comparison table to choose the ideal cuvée:

AOC Corse Sartène:

Created in 1976, the AOP Corse Sartène spans 250 hectares cultivated by a small number of winemakers. In the southwest of Corsica, with a particularly sunny climate, the terroirs are varied and sometimes overlook the sea (region of Tizzano or Gulf of Propriano), or hide in the mountains (Valley of Ortoli, Sartène) where the sea breeze often sweeps through. The soils are mainly composed of granite. More specifically, the vines from the following villages benefit from the AOP: Sartène, Fozzano, Giuncheto, Grossa, Belvédère-Campomoro, and Olmeto. The main grape varieties are Niellucciu and Sciaccarellu for reds and Vermentinu for whites. Many other grape varieties are present in the AOP: Aleaticu, Barbarossa, Carcaghjolu Neru, Minustellu, Carignan, Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and syrah for reds, and Biancu gentile, Codivarta, Genovese, and Ugni blanc for whites.

IGP Île de Beauté:

Bathed in a well-defined island identity, all vineyards located in Corsica can claim the IGP Ile de Beauté. They are primarily derived from classic grape varieties from southern France or historic local grape varieties. Most of the production occurs on the eastern side, most often on the coastal front. Some winemakers (like the Seroin family) prefer to identify their wines within this IGP rather than in their AOP, which sometimes has a more confidential name; this is also sometimes due to the presence of recently replanted endemic or local grape varieties that did not officially exist in the specifications of their own AOP.

What are the characteristics of Sant Armettu wines?

Tasting the wines of Sant' Armettu is not only a moment of remarkable organoleptic quality, but also an emotional experience that transports you back to the magnificent Corsican landscapes, maritime of course, but also mountainous. The wines ideally reflect the authenticity of this land and its people with such specific characters.

Like a handful of other great Corsican wines, the wines of Sant'Armettu stand out for their endemic grape varieties, sometimes skillfully blended with more classic continental grape varieties that have also been present for a long time. But it is above all the touch of the winemaker - before Gilles, now Guillaume - that makes the difference and gives these Corsican wines their identity. The knowledge of their terroir and the match of grape + soil + climate create sparks, not to mention the mastery of aging, each being adapted to the grape it contains thanks to different tank and barrel formats depending on the desired objective: the fruit is always present, with elegance and complexity added, and always a perfect balance between fruit and tannins. The whites also result from a rare science that allows for the extraction of both the inimitable freshness of Corsican grape varieties in a rich texture that is never heavy, especially in the best examples like Sant'Armettu. Most Corsican whites also benefit from a significant and often underestimated aging potential.

How to taste Sant Armettu wines?

The aromatic richness of Corsican reds can be hindered if served at too low a temperature, so it is good to taste them around 17°C. Conversely, tasting them too warm would highlight the alcohol and would not be optimal. The whites should be tasted chilled, but again, the 4 to 6°C from the refrigerator is a bit exaggerated and could mask the sometimes wonderful minerality of the finest cuvées. An ideal temperature would rather be 8 to 10°C. The finest cuvées (Myrtus, Burghese and L'Ermite) can be decanted beforehand to enhance their aromas, but their natural opulence will also emerge in the glass after a few minutes if served directly from the bottle (opened a while in advance if possible).

Local meats (lamb, game, pork), slow-cooked in the oven or simply grilled, pair perfectly with the reds; if possible, avoid charcuterie, which is too fatty to appreciate the finesse of the wines. The whites pair well with locally caught fish, and of course with local cheeses, whether strong or not!

What is the history of the domaine Sant Armettu?

The domaine takes its name from "Saint Ermite," a hermit passionate about plants and endowed with healing powers. Sant' Armettu was created in 1964 by Lucien and Paul Seroin. The latter settled on the vineyard and, as a passionate visionary, already saw the strong qualitative potential and diversity of the terroir. He sold his entire harvest to the local cooperative cellar and "learned" about his terroir.

His son Gilles Seroin, a former wine merchant, succeeded him in 1996 with the ambition to become one of the major domains in Corsica in terms of quality, thanks to all the experience of his father, acquired and also passed down over the years. In the early 2000s, he planted old grape varieties and expanded the cellar, then increased the number of hectares in production. Since 2020, the third generation has gradually taken over the 40 hectares of vines. Guillaume is an oenologist and agricultural engineer, having perfected his training across several continents, and contributes to elevating the quality of the family domaine, recently assisted by his sister Jeanne, also an agricultural engineer. The family unit is part of the DNA of the domaine, which transmits not only values of viticultural quality but also the passion of several generations of Corsican winemakers, proud of their terroir and their endemic grape varieties, so dear to the transmission of their culture worldwide through precise and convincing cuvées.

Why buy Corsican wines from Sartène from the domaine Sant Armettu?

Because we love them, and we believe these wines have a perfect place in your cellar! But as some customers have told us, "we are not objective, since we have tasted and chosen them to sell: we have a vested interest". That is why we prefer to "defend" our selection with comments from major guides, more objective than we are:

Guide RVF des Meilleurs Vins de France 2026: 2★/4 (great domaine of reference). Gilles Seroin, this passionate and endearing winemaker, is endowed with great talent as a winemaker and producer, well supported by his children Jeanne and especially Guillaume, who manages the vinifications. Their work on endemic grape varieties, parcel vinification, effective organic certification since 2021, and the non-interventionist philosophy that is increasingly taking root at the domaine contribute to this excellence. Sant Armettu undoubtedly ranks among the best on the island of Beauty. The second star is well secured."

Guide Bettane + Desseauve 2024: 4 ★/5 (very high quality). Gilles Seroin produces the most consistent wines of Sartène, benefiting from old vines and an innate sense of balance in winemaking. The latest vintages confirm the talent of the winemaker with a flawless track record in all three colors and wines of a complexity that rivals the best. The life of family domains is made up of difficult choices and essential subjects to achieve success. At Sant'Armettu, those concerning the transmission of know-how are at the heart of the Seroin family's work. A grand winemaker, inhabited by the spirit of his father Paul, Gilles knows everything about the terroirs of the valleys of Barracci and Tizzano where the domaine produces its great emotional wines. He now shares this experience with his two children, Jeanne and Guillaume, perfectly trained and ready to passionately take over this beautiful heritage of vines, endemic grape varieties, and ideas."

If you appreciate the domaine Sant Armettu, you will also fall for the wines of Tarra di l'Apa and those of the Santamaria family.
Reviews and articles on domaine Sant Armettu:

In Corsica, the vine takes the maquis. Le Monde, n°23367. Laure Gasparotto.

La Revue du Vin de France - Rediscovering Corsica by diving into its roots - July-August 2021 - J.E Simond.

La Revue du Vin de France - July-August 2023

Podcast - The smiles of wine
# 65 - Guillaume Seroin - From the top of the hill of the Hermit (06/03/2023)

Check out our selection of great wines signed by Gilles Seroin: