Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen, Magma, Terre Siciliane

Trash of the trashiest persuasion and a good reason not to trust Rimmerman or the wine critics. Mt. Etna can suck it, $135 years ago for orange trash. I guess you could stand it if you were looking at a solera style wine but this isn’t that. I knew from the “cheaper” bottlings of twigs and sticks that I also bought, what to expect but this even exceeded my lack of expectations. Still loaded with sediment despite spending two weeks …

2007 vintage

Really quite good. Was not expecting this level of refinement, particularly at 15% abv, which is beautifully integrated. It would have been very interesting to taste this on release and then again now.

2016 vintage

This bottle seems (very) mature, all savory and smoke. Rich, almost sweet, this reminds me a bit of an old port.

2007 vintage

Authentic wine. Made with passion. Fresh and full of body also many years. You can taste the smell and the flavor of the Vulcano etna. Great wine!

2007 vintage

Weightless, natural style. Ripe strawberries, blackcherry. Ash, good depth of minerals, dried flowers, raw savoury and gamey notes. Refined. 15% abv feels like 13.5% only.

2016 vintage

Opened in HK and served blind. No extensive notes but this completely fooled me - not very natural, and not very Etna. I thought it could have been a New World Pinot or a weird Burgundy, even though the high alcohol warned me against guessing that way. Very good and will definitely revisit to wrap my head around this properly.

2016 vintage

No vintage designation, as the wine is Vino da Tavola and the back label just says Magma 6VA (lot MAVA06), but the description tells that the vintage for Magma 6 is 2007. The grapes are sourced from a centenarian (planted 1910) Contrada Barbabecchi vineyard of only pre-phylloxeric alberello (bush-vine) Nerello Mascalese. Vinified in terracotta vessels buried in the ground, macerated with the skins for 6-7 months. Aged for approximately 18 months in terracotta vessels. Bottled unfined, unfiltered and without any …

2007 vintage

No vintage designation, as the wine is Vino da Tavola and the back label just says Magma 7VA (lot MAVA07), but the description tells that the vintage for Magma 7 is 2008. The grapes are sourced from a centenarian (planted 1910) Contrada Barbabecchi vineyard of only pre-phylloxeric alberello (bush-vine) Nerello Mascalese. Vinified in terracotta vessels buried in the ground, macerated with the skins for 6-7 months. Aged for approximately 18 months in terracotta vessels. Bottled unfined, unfiltered and without any …

2008 vintage

Short note - crowberry, herbs, basil, rosemary, blueberries, hint of pepper, dark berries, medium ripe tannins medium+ alcohol, body and flavour intensity, quite high dry-extract, long finish, some floral notes, asphalt, quite dense and heavier than excpected. Impressive wine in many ways, well balanced, long finish, intense wine with high concentration, medium+ complexity, outstanding quality, 93p

2016 vintage

Can’t rate as bottle had turned. Really disappointing. Had purchased at a local wine store on Etna.

2016 vintage

Earthy, bright red fruits, baking spices

2016 vintage

3 days upon opening serving into Zalto Burgundy glass (“Root” day): Pale purplish to the eyes. Whole bunch notes, with clear Etna style fruits with some time in glass. Very amazingly integrated with high acidity, minerality and tannins here. 94-95 points.

2016 vintage

No vintage designation, as the wine is Vino da Tavola and the back label just says Magma 7VA (lot MAVA07), but the description tells that the vintage for Magma 7 is 2008. The grapes are sourced from a centenarian (planted 1910) Barbabecchi vineyard of only pre-phylloxeric alberello (bush-vine) Nerello Mascalese. Vinified in terracotta vessels buried in the ground, macerated with the skins for 6-7 months. Aged for approximately 18 months in terracotta vessels. Bottled unfined, unfiltered and without any added …

2008 vintage

Open and accessible, forest floor, strawberries, pomegranate, dry jammyness, quite attractive and not too wild to a less experienced drinker of natural wines, decanting recommend due to large amount of particles in the wine.

2008 vintage

Rocking!

2007 vintage

Interesting wine, but, as with most natural wines, a few noticeable defects including a hint of VA and brett. Combined with the high ABV, notes of stewed/cooked fruits and the high price tag, probably not worth the price of admission. No SO2 added, so I don't think this has a long life ahead, especially given the presence of VA & Brett. Drink up.

2016 vintage

petliiant, va, high alcohol, high residual sugar. nose of cooked fruit and boiled eggs. the classic 'volcanic' nose. good but is it really worth the price?

2016 vintage

By far the most dark and savory Etna-wine I've come across. Black cherry, dry aged beef, violets and roses, crushed rock, smoke and some VA. Initially a bit fizzy on the palate. Serious structure but lots of black fruit to balance it. Long finish with a bit of warmth from the 15% abv. Very clean and "serious" compared to the other Cornelissen wines I've had. I could see this age for quite some time but it was surprisingly approachable today. …

2016 vintage

Stood up in refrigerator for about 6 years, having noted the variable delicateness of previous Cornelissen wines. Clear slightly tawny ruby. The nose is very shy, the first sip is medium-alcoholic sweetish fruit salad, the finish is astringent and hot, but more vinous.

2007 vintage

100% Nerello Mascalese. Pre-phylloxera, very old plants. About 60 days of maceration on all Cornelissens cuvees. Production of 1500 bottles. In 2016, the alcohol percentage was almost 15% for all wines. Not to masculine with is extremely precise on multi-layered aromas. Delicious concentrated cherries, more darker fruit core, salt, and light nuts. Pretty rich and very structured wine that is now experienced as very tight. However, it gives a good fruit feeling of concentrated cherry and fiery minerality. Long great …

2016 vintage

Frank Cornelissen Wine Lunch (LE JARDIN de Joël Robuchon, Hong Kong) : PNP into tasting glass (“Fruit” day): Pale garnet with bricking rim. Sweeter and darker, vegetal-infused fruits on the nose. Some rusticity and seashells like salinity. Quickly evolving nose that is difficult to catch but adds to the enjoyment. Has power yet inspired the signature elegance of the variety, with flavours gushing out towards the end of the finish. Flavours again more on the darker fruits that seems to …

2006 vintage

Frank Cornelissen Wine Lunch (LE JARDIN de Joël Robuchon, Hong Kong) : PNP into tasting glass (“Fruit” day): Pale ruby with a garnet rim and deposits. Seems to be a little more forward but also more aromatic and easier to understand than the others tasted. More red fruits driven. Very fine-boned for the acidity and I loved the transparency on the palate. It is also 'purer' and has a little more flesh than 2009 at least for now. A fine …

2008 vintage

Frank Cornelissen Wine Lunch (LE JARDIN de Joël Robuchon, Hong Kong) : PNP into Zalto Burgundy glass (“Fruit” day): Pale ruby with garnet rims. Notes of cherry liquor, dried rose petals and this is probably more about florals and stems than fruits. More medicinal herbs too. Even more nuanced than the 2006 in my view. Good tension on the palate. More substance than the 2006 but can use a little more time in cellar? Great wine indeed and agreed as …

2007 vintage

First disappointing Magma. Just weird red wine.

2007 vintage

This was a mind bender. Poured the color of a Big Gulp of Dr. Pepper once most of the ice has melted. Some of that same sour spice on the nose as well, plus a suggestion of Port and some underlying menthol. The palate still had some freshness and well-resolving tannin even if the fruit had been sapped by whatever transformative processes had worked their magic in the bottle over the years. Definitely a captivating learning experience, perhaps a bit …

2007 vintage

2010 Brunello Riserva Bacchanalia (Stewart's house) : What a change of pace from all Sangiovese. Tasted extremely young: nose reminded me a bit of brachetto with loads of strawberry and some ashy notes. On the palate, very light in style, but yet extremely tannic: more sweet strawberry and raspberry. Very interesting wine.

2007 vintage

Having finished my only bottle, I can only wish to have bought more of this when given the chance. Regrettably, I was overly cautious due to the raging variability of Cornelissen's lesser wines, at least once they reached the end of their supply chain in my cellar. This bottle was superb--bright, transparent ruby, aromas of red berries, sweet fruit, and lovely balance. A memorable bottle.

2007 vintage

Very interesting wine. Translucent light red hue with an earthy and mineral nose. A bit of oxidation upon opening that leaves after 15 minutes in the glass. The wine had nice purity and evolved in the glass, but never really soared or made a statement. At $150 a bottle, not w wine that will become part of my cellar.

2008 vintage

Had ths at a wine tasting, where it evocted love or hate. It is certainly a very different wine: light in color; some frizzante. Tastes of cola, mike chocolate, earth and plum. Not really a wine taste. Interesting as a totally different drink, but not something to treasure and look forward to. A freak.

2007 vintage

Licht rood, verkleurend naar oranje aan de rand, zeer veel depot, er drijft van alles rond. In de neus krenten, prikkelend alcoholisch. In de smaak stro, cassis, alcoholisch, wat overheersend zoet. Zachte tannines, middellang tot lange afdronk. Geen idee wat voor score ik hier aan moet geven, het is een curiositeit.

2006 vintage

Fresh, clean, complex and so food friendly. Couldn't tell it had 15% alcohol. A rare wine quite enjoyed by all.

2008 vintage

Light brownish-rose-red. Warm, dark, dusty fruit on the nose, medicinal notes and chalk. On the palate it weirdly fluctuates between being metallic and plummy sweetish, tannins emerge and than disappear. Weird. Hot and slightly mouldy finish, bitterish spicy aftertaste, mineral, with unpleasant wet dirtiness.

2007 vintage

Interesting. Would have guessed it as a Gramenon. Foggy, unfiltered (I think), very bright and forward and clean fruit - and the taste goes on. This is wine. Quite a bit of concentration and intensity, very interesting.

2007 vintage

Tasted at 3rd Annual NY Wine Expo. Boutique/artisan Burgundy wine of Nerello Mascalese grapes. Wine is organic biodynamic; wine label is hand-painted. Very unique wine w/sweet exotic spice.

2007 vintage

Freedom Pies (Convivio) : Two bottles, one of them decanted a few hours in advance and the other one poured right away. The freshly opened bottle had a sweeter, sucking candy scent, and tasted just as candied, with its combination of what is clearly a noticeable amount of residual sugar and incredibly high alcohol. The decanted bottle tastes the same, maybe augmented with something deeper and darker on the back end, but the smell is less sweet and more poopy. …

2007 vintage

Pie Franco (Convivio, NYC) : Served from two bottles with identical provenance as an experiment to compare the wine when it was uncorked and poured immediately, and decanted three hours beforehand. Enjoyed the popped-and-poured version better, fascinating stuff with bright red fruited flavours and herbal notes accented by an intense peppery spiciness and faint candy sweetness, very pale and light red in colour (with a fair bit of sediment in the glass), but really intense in the mouth with a …

2007 vintage

A contradiction of terms. Very pale color, but very rich flavor. Evolved over the night. Some sour cherry. Frankly, a little bit of lost for descriptors. I liked it and could appreciate it, but not sure if I'd pay the tariff again. I have a few of the '06's so will try them over the next few years.

2007 vintage

One of the most singularly unique wines I have consumed. Opened and began to drank immediately -- I would not recommend decanting for an extended time as you need to experience this right from the beginning as it begins to absorb oxygen. Great nose of black fruit and tobacco. Intense finish of tar and volcanic ash -- this wine screams terroir. Over a period of a few hours, the wine kept evolving, sharpening the focus on the tannins and terroir …

2006 vintage

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Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen, Magma, Terre Siciliane

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