2017 La Magia Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany 750 ml

Fattoria La Magia sits southeast of the town of Montalcino, right between the prestigious sub-regions of Ragnaie and Castelnuovo dell’Abate. It’s a privileged location to grow grapes, and La Magia has immaculate, organically farmed 40-year old vines to match—old for Montalcino, and all in one contiguous block. That’s not the norm for Brunello, but it’s much easier to farm than having to move between smaller parcels. This was essential in a vintage that threw a few wrenches at growers over the course of the year.

Once the grapes were harvested in the final week of September, winemaker Fabian Schwarz spared no expense in time or technique to ensure that they reached their highest form. An old-school 40-day maceration ensured the development of a soaring structure to complement plenty of fruit and a full body. Then he moved the wine into 500 liter French oak tonneaux to age for a full three years. A third of those barrels were new, the rest once used, giving the wine the kind of luxurious polish that you see in its much pricier peers.