From a vineyard site not too far away from the winery near Castelnuovo dell'Abate on the eastern and cooler side of the appellation, this wine was once a Rosso di Montalcino recently upgraded to Brunello status. With vines planted in 2000, the fruit now renders the complexity and depth to represent this celebrated Tuscan appellation. This is a tight and compact wine, with a nervous quality of fruit that will unwind and settle with more bottle age. This vineyard site produces fruit poised for long-term aging, and these 2016 results follow that mandate. There is a lot of crisp fruit, sour cherry and cranberry in this tonic, lively Brunello (with 15,000 bottles hitting the market in January 2021).
James Suckling (93)
A focused, polished red with dark-berry, cherry, walnut and dried-flower aromas and flavors. Medium to full body and firm, caressing tannins. Lovely finesse and polish to this. Dusty texture. Needs a year or two to soften, but already pretty.
Jancis Robinson (18)
Healthy mid ruby. Captivating savoury spice and mineral nose. Succulent, suave cherry palate with rich powdery tannins. Plenty of fruit of real depth but at the same time has a lightness of touch about it.
BOW (8.50)
Vinous (95)
The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Amore e Magia is more backward and darkly intense than usual. Black currants, cherry, smoky minerals, incense and savory herbs all come together to form a beguiling display. It’s velvety in texture with a display of polished purple-tinged fruits, which travels across the palate with admirable density, leaving minerals and a saturation of fine tannins in its wake. Youthfully monolithic and folded in upon itself, the Amore e Magia finishes on structure with only echoes of tart berries, plum and tobacco in the background. This is not for the faint of heart or Sangiovese purist, yet it is balanced for the cellar and overdelivers in every other way. It bears mentioning that this was tasted over two days and held firm to these notes.
Jeb Dunnuck (94)
Sourced from biodynamically farmed vineyards in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, the 2016 Podere le Ripi Amore e Magia Brunello di Montalcino is more assertive in its vinous rusticity, with black truffle, balsamic, dark mineral earth, and black cherry fruit. It is forward in its tannic structure without losing any of its acid drive. The wilder aromatics benefit from some air, and this would be a great match for roast lamb and grilled meats with a char.
Falstaff (98)
Bright, intense ruby with fine garnet shimmer. Very intense and complex nose with pronounced notes of ripe plums and wild raspberries, plus some leather and dried porcini mushrooms. Shows wonderfully silky and polished tannin on the palate, builds up for a long time, juicy fruit, firm drive on the finish, extremely juicy, still presents itself very young.
Wine Enthusiast (95)
Aromas of underbrush, leather, baked plum and camphor meld together on this full-boded red. On the fleshy, already approachable palate, enveloping, fine-grained tannins surround raspberry jam, vanilla, tobacco and licorice. Tangy acidity keeps it balanced.
