Winemaker Notes
This is the absolute pinnacle or "cherry" of La Magia's winemaking skills, produced with grapes from the oldest vines, all at least 40 years old, enhanced by a terrain that is low in fertility but maximises concentration. The wine is named after one of the two cherry trees on either side of the vines, a magnificent specimen that identifies the vineyard from a considerable distance.
Their top cru, le grand vin de La Màgia. Only a very limited quantity of numbered bottles of this precious Brunello is released onto the market.
With its freshness and complexity, this wine has pronounced mineral undertones. A statement of concentration and elegance that only the Sangiovese grape can deliver, when grown in its ideal environment.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
There’s real freshness and focus to this 2017, with black-cherry, berry and pine-cone aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied with fresh, chewy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Fantastic wine for the vintage, highlighting the exceptional viticulture here. From organically grown grapes.
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Decanter
La Magia harvested a full three weeks earlier than usual, even ahead of the torrid 2003 vintage. Despite lower production overall and no Riserva, the estate still managed to come out with its 1,080-bottle Ciliegio selection. A hefty 80% new wood gives an overt toastiness with smoky incense, clove, cedar and vanilla wafting from the glass. Though polished, the tannins are front and centre, needing time to settle in. Underneath the oak sheen, glossy cherries infused with lavender and heather carry through the medium finish. Quite a strapping Brunello but well-played.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
La Magia's 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Ciliegio is made with certified-organic fruit and is named after the cherry ("ciliegio" in Italian) trees that line the perimeter of this growing site. It must be the power of suggestion, but I taste many cherry-related aromas here, from baked cherry confit to toasted cherrywood. Those oaky tones are a little too monotone in my opinion. With time, they become increasingly savory and spicy with cinnamon and clove. The wine definitely underlines the flavor abundance of the vintage, and it ends with dry, slightly bitter tannins. Fresh acidity kicks in at the end.
Among Italy's elite red grape varieties, Sangiovese has the perfect intersection of bright red fruit and savory earthiness and is responsible for the best red wines of Tuscany. While it is best known as the chief component of Chianti, it is also the main grape in Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and reaches the height of its power and intensity in the complex, long-lived Brunello di Montalcino. Somm Secret—Sangiovese doubles under the alias, Nielluccio, on the French island of Corsica where it produces distinctly floral and refreshing reds and rosés.
Famous for its bold, layered and long-lived red, Brunello di Montalcino, the town of Montalcino is about 70 miles south of Florence, and has a warmer and drier climate than that of its neighbor, Chianti. The Sangiovese grape is king here, as it is in Chianti, but Montalcino has its own clone called Brunello.
The Brunello vineyards of Montalcino blanket the rolling hills surrounding the village and fan out at various elevations, creating the potential for Brunello wines expressing different styles. From the valleys, where deeper deposits of clay are found, come wines typically bolder, more concentrated and rich in opulent black fruit. The hillside vineyards produce wines more concentrated in red fruits and floral aromas; these sites reach up to over 1,600 feet and have shallow soils of rocks and shale.
Brunello di Montalcino by law must be aged a minimum of four years, including two years in barrel before realease and once released, typically needs more time in bottle for its drinking potential to be fully reached. The good news is that Montalcino makes a “baby brother” version. The wines called Rosso di Montalcino are often made from younger vines, aged for about a year before release, offer extraordinary values and are ready to drink young.