2015 Messorio
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The 2015 Messorio is a true tribute to Merlot. It's not easy to faithfully render the distinctive characteristics of this grape, within such a tight margin of error, but the winemaking team at Le Macchiole has deftly achieved exactly that. With sourcing from the Puntone vineyard, Le Macchiole wanted to achieve less density yet more aromas of skin. The wine has a homogeneous feel, with huge generosity and fullness, and it delivers big, ripe cherry tones with so much luscious fruit and delineated persistence.
Critic scores
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Walter Speller, jancisrobinson.com
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Messorio captures the Macchiole style beautifully. Ample, creamy and voluptuous, with tremendous depth, the 2015 has it all. Raspberry jam, chocolate, new leather, licorice and dark spice all meld together effortlessly. Even at this early stage, the 2015 is simply impeccable in its balance. The new 100% new oak and the tannins are already very nicely integrated. Hints of the exoticism Messorio will ultimately develop in bottle are starting to appear, but the 2015 needs more time to be at its finest.
Why not labelled as Bolgheri? 'Because not all parcels we harvested the grapes from for this wine have the DOC Bolgheri.' But isn’t that like saying under the DOC Bolgheri you cannot make great wine? 'Yes, perhaps but the albo (the official vineyard cadastre) of the DOC is closed, so we cannot label it as Bolgheri.' 100% Merlot from the Bolgheri plain and from two different plots with 20% and 25% clay, respectively, while the first has large river stones also mixed in with the clay. One-third was fermented in concrete and two-thirds in stainless steel. Aged for 18 months in large oak cask and barrique. They bought a tronconic oak cask but the fermentation in this container turned out less interesting than expected, hence it is only used for ageing. First vintage was 1994. The example was Masseto? 'Yes, I know, a little banal.' 10,000 bottles produced. Deep, youthful ruby. Perfumed and deep oak and fruit nose. It is certainly captivating, but leaves me a little cold. Very long, deep and tannic with minerality on the finish. Needs much more time. (WS)