Fattoria La Magia house spotlight
Official Fattoria La Magia film from the Schwarz family's Montalcino estate, the same organic house behind this 2017 Brunello.
2017 La Magia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany, Italy (96JS)
Fabian Schwarz's high-altitude organic Brunello, James Suckling 96, floral black cherry from a hot, dry 2017 you can open at forty-four dollars.
The 2017 La Magia is 100 percent Sangiovese from organically farmed vines at 400 to 450 metres: floral black cherry, blood orange, rose tea, and ultra-fine tannin after 36 months in 500-liter French oak, now $44.
High-altitude organic Brunello that stayed floral in a hot year
La Magia sits at 400 to 450 metres on stony sand over clay, a single 15-hectare Sangiovese block the Schwarz family has farmed organically for decades. Fabian Schwarz keeps yields low and ages the 2017 36 months in 500-liter French oak, one-third new. James Suckling 96: floral and black-cherry, so perfumed for this hot and dry vintage, ultra-fine tannins that are energetic and long, structured and manicured, better after 2024. Vinous 92 found sweet roses, lavender, blood orange, and raspberry preserves. Decanter 91 heard cigar box and rose tea. This is the bottle that puts an organic Montalcino name on a table at forty-four dollars.
The house
The Schwarz family bought La Magia more than 40 years ago. Fabian Schwarz farms the single Sangiovese block organic and bottles the site, not a regional blend.
The wine
100% Sangiovese. Low yields, extended maceration, 36 months in 500 L French oak, one-third new, then 6 months in bottle. 14.5% ABV.
The scores
James Suckling 96. Vinous 92, Eric Guido. Decanter 91, Michaela Morris.
The drinker
Floral black cherry first. Decant 45 to 60 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F. Short ribs or lamb.
Floral black cherry, then blood orange, rose tea, and fine tannin
Suckling found a beautiful red with floral and black-cherry aromas, full-bodied, ultra-fine tannins, energetic and long. Guido found sweet roses, lavender, blood orange, raspberry preserves, and camphor. The house note is ruby tending to garnet, red berry fruit, mineral overtones, delicate spice, generous acidity, and a long finish.
A hot, dry Brunello year. Altitude and organic farming kept perfume instead of jam. Suckling wanted it after 2024. It is in that window now.
Floral black cherry, blood orange, rose tea, raspberry preserve, cigar box, lavender.
Full, 14.5% ABV, ultra-fine energetic tannin, 36 months 500 L French oak.
Mineral spice, length. Decant 45 to 60 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F.
Low yields, a long maceration, then 500-liter barrels instead of a small-oak costume
Old, low-yielding vines let Schwarz extend maceration for depth. Thirty-six months in 500-liter French oak, one-third new, is meant to drop oak sweetness and keep freshness. Six months in bottle. Stony sand over clay at 400 to 450 metres does the rest. The point is floral Sangiovese, not toast.
Certified organic fruit. 14.5% alcohol. Drink now through about 2032.
Decant 45 to 60 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F. Short ribs or rosemary lamb.
A German family on a Montalcino hill, farming organic because the site asked for it
La Magia exists because the Schwarz family bought a high, stony block when Brunello was still a niche, then stayed for the view and the grape.
More than 40 years on this hill. The vineyard is one block, more than 40-year-old Sangiovese, registered as Brunello.
Fabian Schwarz treats organic certification as four decades of work, not a slogan. Ciliegio is the single-vineyard cuvee. This bottle is the estate Brunello.
The 2017 is that house in a hot year: floral, manicured, and priced for a real table.
A slow rib, then lamb with rosemary
Brunello this floral still wants browned beef. Short ribs take the tannin. Lamb keeps cherry and herb in the same key.
Two plates. One braised short rib. One rosemary lamb chop. Both can take La Magia's fine tannin and floral cherry.
Decant 45 to 60 minutes. Serve 60 to 64 F. Large stems. Air is for flower, cherry, and spice.
Braised Short Ribs
Slow beef and a wine sauce. La Magia's classic landing.
Why it works: Fat and collagen meet ultra-fine tannin. Reduced wine echoes black cherry, blood orange, and spice.
View Recipe for braised short ribs (opens in a new tab)
Rosemary Garlic Lamb Chops
Herb-crusted lamb for floral Brunello and the 2017's mineral close.
Why it works: Lamb fat rounds the tannin. Rosemary echoes rose tea, lavender, and the savory line.
View Recipe for rosemary garlic lamb chops (opens in a new tab)Put this La Magia Brunello in the cart
Fabian Schwarz, organic Montalcino, James Suckling 96. Forty-four dollars.
Put it in the cart. This is the La Magia bottle for a table that wants floral Brunello, not a heavy oak slogan.
