Campo di Magnacosta 2019
ABOUT THE VINTAGE
Campo di Magnacosta was the first of our three Cabernet Franc Cru born in 2011 from an idea of Andrea Franchetti that was to enhance the characteristics of a precise terroir. Campo di Magnacosta is a 1.5 hectare parcel of river gravel and silt on the valley’s bottom, where an old stream ate into a hill (Magna:eat ; Costa: hillside). It was planted over 20 years ago with cuttings from a vineyard in Pomerol where Cabernet Franc has grown for three centuries.
A cold spring, with a May that hardly existed there was frost on May 7th, which required us to spend the night lighting over 9,000 candles in our lowest vineyards to prevent damage during flowering. This was followed by a prolonged period of cold that delayed flowering, especially for the early ripening Semillon and merlot. Spare bunches, small berries, thick skins.
Most of August, it was so hot that the plants shut down they were already tired given the bumper crop of the previous year. This was followed by another drop in temperature at the end of the month, which paralyzed the maturation of all of the vines, especially the late ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. 2019 was the latest ripening vintage we’ve seen in ten years.
We began the 14th of September with the Semillon, which was brought in over 2-3 pickings, and the first bit of merlot from the hillsides, with the heart of the fruit coming in around the 10th. The waiting period between the Merlot and cabernet franc this year was very short, with the franc mostly in by the 18th. Even with a rainy and cool start of October, we were impressed by the quality and quantity: 5 or 6 excellent parcels of merlot, the same for the franc, due to the smaller and tighter bunches with fewer berries, but more left on the
vines this vintage.
REVIEWS
Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator, 94 points: “Bay leaf, tomato leaf and thyme aromas add a savory element to the black currant and black cherry fruit, with lively acidity and compact tannins providing support as this winds down on the lingering finish. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2042.”
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate, 96 points: “If you love Cabernet Franc, please direct your attention here. The Tenuta di Trinoro 2019 Campo di Magnacosta is a study in the intensity, power and depth of this grape. Campo di Magnacosta was the first of several single-vineyard parcels planted to this variety. The first bottling from this 1.5-hectare site was made in 2011, and this year a mere 2,122 bottles were released. The wine is profound and pure with luscious dark fruit, sharp minerality, spice and etched contours. You get that distinctive hint of slate or pencil shaving that is especially characteristic of this Cabernet Franc. Its full-bodied texture wraps smoothly over the palate, and the tannins have been expertly integrated.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 94+ points: “The 2019 Campo di Magnacosta comes as very tightly wound. Bright red/purplish toned fruit, chalk, mint and white pepper lend notable and salivating energy to this decidedly focused Franc. It’s amazing to see just how expressive these wines are with regards to site and vintage. Let’s see if this fleshes out a bit more with time. Drinking window: 2025-2039”
Eros Teboni, The Wine Journal, 94+ points
100% Cabernet Franc
