Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaknone or neutral

Drinking window

Best 10 to 30 years from vintage.

vintage10 yrs30 yrs32 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryExtraordinary Length, Mineral finish

Aroma: black cherry, volcanic smoke, incense, dried rose

Palate: dark cherry, graphite, volcanic stone, truffle

Magma is a small-allocation natural wine: pure Nerello Mascalese from ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines above 1,000 metres, no sulphur added, aged in amphora. Production runs around 2,000 bottles per vintage.

What it pairs with

  • Served alone as meditation wine The extraordinary complexity and length of Magma rewards contemplative solo drinking.
  • White truffle pasta The wine's volcanic earthiness and incense complexity create a transcendent dialogue with truffle.More wines for truffles →
  • Aged Comté at 36 months The wine's mineral depth and long finish need the crystalline complexity of extreme aged cheese.More wines for aged hard cheese →

With cheese

Maiorchino Our pick Maiorchino is delicate for a pecorino when young and turns piquant, ageing from about 8 months to as long as 24. Etna Rosso crus bring firm tannin, high acidity and dark cherry depth, the structure for an old, sharp wheel.

How to serve Frank Cornelissen Magma

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Served alone as meditation wine, White truffle pasta, Aged Comté at 36 months. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Belgian wine merchant Frank Cornelissen came to Etna in 2001 to make natural wine from high-altitude Etna terroir. Magma, from ungrafted Nerello Mascalese vines above 1,000 metres in the Solicchiata zone, is fermented without sulphur in amphora. Production is around 2,000 bottles per vintage.

  1. 2001Frank Cornelissen arrives on Etna and plants the philosophy for Magma
  2. 2006Magma achieves cult status in natural wine circles; demand far exceeds supply

Facts

Producer
Frank Cornelissen · visiting guide
Grapes
Nerello Mascalese
Classification
IGP Terre Siciliane
Oak
No oak; aged in amphora and large neutral vessels
ABV
14.0%
Price
€200-400 at retail
Drinking window
10-30 from vintage
First vintage
2001
Biodynamic
Biodynamic Practicing
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED

Frequently asked about Frank Cornelissen Magma

What does Frank Cornelissen Magma taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, volcanic smoke, incense, dried rose. On the palate, dark cherry, graphite, volcanic stone, truffle. Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a extraordinary length, mineral finish. Magma is one of Italy's most sought-after cult wines: pure Nerello Mascalese from ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines above 1,000 metres, no sulphur added, aged in amphora. The wine embodies volcanic terroir at its most extreme and unfiltered.

When should I drink Frank Cornelissen Magma?

Drink 10-30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Frank Cornelissen Magma?

Served alone as meditation wine is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include White truffle pasta and Aged Comté at 36 months. The extraordinary complexity and length of Magma rewards contemplative solo drinking.

What grapes are in Frank Cornelissen Magma?

The blend is Nerello Mascalese. The wine is classified as IGP Terre Siciliane.

Tags

biodynamic cellar worthy cult wine dry firm tannin high acid iconic medium body mood contemplative mood funky nerello mascalese occasion cellar occasion gift occasion special old vines old world organic pairs with aged cheese pairs with truffles price luxury still red

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