Megonio Librandi 2023

The Megonio from the Calabrian winery Librandi is a red wine capable of expressing the Mediterranean character of its place of origin. It is a pure Magliocco, an indigenous variety of the Calabrian territory that has its roots in Magna Graecia. In fact, the name “Magliocco” comes from Greek and means “very tender knot,” probably referring to the closed shape of the bunch that resembles that of a knot. This ancient grape variety experienced years of oblivion during the 20th century but has been recently rediscovered and enhanced by far-sighted producers like Librandi. Regarding the label's name, “Megonio” is the name of a Roman centurion who lived in Calabria in the 2nd century AD and was the first to leave written traces of local viticulture.

Librandi Megonio is a 100% Magliocco grown on clay-limestone soils in the Megonio vineyard, among the highest vine-covered hills of the estate. The grapes, harvested in the first decade of October, are crushed in stainless steel tanks for alcoholic fermentation accompanied by 15 days of maceration on the skins. Once the winemaking process is complete, the mass is transferred to Allier oak barriques for aging for 12 months, followed by an additional 6 months of refinement in the bottle before its final release on the market.

The Magliocco Megonio from the Librandi estate is ruby red in color. The aromatic spectrum expresses intense notes of red fruits such as cherry and plum, surrounded by perceptions of Mediterranean herbs and various spices. On the palate, it shows excellent balance, pleasant warmth, and well-integrated tannins, with a fruity finish that recalls the sensations of the nose. A red wine from Calabria that can be paired with various foods such as aged cheeses and succulent dishes based on white or red meats.