Librandi - Magno Megonio Val di Neto Rosso, 2016
Librandi, with a production of 2.5 million bottles per year, is one of the leading wine producers in Calabria. The winery is located in Cirò Marina (on the Ionian western coast of the region) where the estate stretches for some 230 hectares of vineyard.
Librandi was founded in the 1950s, and today it’s run by the fourth generation of winemakers. In spite of its size, the company has always been run like a family business. Today Antonio and Nicodemo Librandi strive to improve Calabria’s image in the wine scene. They combine tradition and innovation, and their philosophy is reflected in their wines – made from both international and local grape varieties.
Librandi is famous for their Cirò, the leading Calabrian red wine made from gaglioppo. However, since the 1990s the company has been researching obscure native grape varieties such as arvino, mantonico bianco, pecorello and magliocco.
This “Magno Megonio” is one of the results of their experimentation. Made from 100% magliocco, the wine is produced from grapes sourced from the countryside between Rocca di Neto and Casabona. It is matured for 12 months in barriques and then it spends an additional 6 months in bottle before being released.
In the glass the wine has a dark ruby tinge, medium to deep in intensity. On the nose, it opens up with genuine and succulent red fruit notes, with hints of black fruit. Plum, damson, raspberry and cherry fragrances seem riper and riper with each inhalation. A lovely meaty spiciness follows through, with suggestions of tapenade, juniper, stewed veal (or is that just me craving meat?) and earth.
On the palate, the red is full in body with a good (medium+) acidity and high level of tannins. The latter are gravelly and slightly dusty, nevertheless showing a polished character. The juicy and round fruity attack gives way to spicy nuances mirroring the nose. Redolent of animal fur and earthy suggestions, especially in the refined finish. The high alcohol content is masked by the intense and ripe fruitiness. This wine exhibits both a good flavour intensity and a harmonic balance.