Deep, dark, blackish ruby. Very sweet, ripe aromas of plum and coconut, with some alcohol showing. Powerfully structured and evolving very slowly; rather austere and backward for a merlot. The tannins still show a slightly grittiness. A wine for the long haul.

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This is a brilliant effort, rivaling the finest made not only in Italy, but also in France and the United States. Quantities are very limited for the Merlot from the Messorio vineyard. Approximately 40-50 cases will be available, but production is expected to increase slightly in future vintages. The purpose of writing about it is so Wine Advocate subscribers can get a head start as this will certainly become one of the great new wines of Italy. The awesome 1997 Merlot Messorio is truly prodigious. Black/purple-colored, it boasts an astonishingly rich nose of black raspberries, smoky new oak, dried herbs, and cedar. Chocolate, new saddle leather, and exhilarating levels of black fruits give this wine a luxurious, voluptuous texture. The finish lasts for nearly a minute! A wine-making tour de force that is already accessible given its expansive, open-knit texture, it should last for 12-15+ years.

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Near-perfect harmony in this wine. Unbelievable. Dark ruby-black, with stupendous aromas of blackberry, currant and mineral. Full-bodied, with masses of velvety tannins that go on and on. Drink now.

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