Le Macchiole Toscana Messorio 2016

99 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "This expression of Merlot is explosive and profound. The 2016 Messorio presents an absolute textbook rendition of Merlot that can be read and appreciated in terms of the layering and overlapping textures of the wine as it rolls over the palate. There is a point of sweetness on the palate, and the wine also shows a bright point of acidity that makes for a great balancing act. I tasted this wine twice, and at my first tasting, I tried it next to the 2015 vintage, thus putting me in a better position to directly compare the two. Whereas the 2015 edition came off as more velvety and soft, the 2016 vintage displays exceptionally crafted precision. This is an incredible wine. Fermentation occurs in cement vats, and the wine goes into barrique for 19 months. Some 11,000 bottles were made. Drink: 2022-2045. (May 2019)"

97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "[$275 list] With the 2016 Messorio, Le Macchiole moves from a wine of unctuous power to one of total refinement. Aromatic, translucent and striking in its nuance, the 2016 is flat out stunning. The flavors are fresh, vibrant and beautifully delineated. More than anything else, through the 2016 shows the present-day Macchiole style off to great effect. Another year in bottle has done wonders for the Messorio, which is even more arresting in its beauty today than it was last year. Drink: 2024-2041. (Mar 2020)"

96 points Wine Spectator: "Dense and concentrated, featuring ripe blackberry and black cherry flavors. Serious tannins add structure, as does the lively acidity. All the elements cascade through the long, saturated finish, where iron, tobacco and herb notes emerge. The oak is well-integrated, and this is racy in the end. Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2038. 1,000 cases made, 90 cases imported. (10/15/20)"

96 points Aldo Fiordelli (Decanter): "Messorio is made from the estate's best selection of Merlot grapes. The 2016 vintage has produced an extremely balanced wine with great intensity, full of aromas of mediterranean herbs, juniper, meat and some butteriness. However, it's on the palate that it shows its full depth, with a full, creamy frame, thick on the finish yet ripe and precise. Cloves, curry and other spicy notes from oak ageing are still to be integrated, yet the wine already provides a warm caress. Drinking Window: 2019-2040. (Jun 2019)"

96 points James Suckling: "Shows very ripe aromas on the nose with lightly burnt oranges, black olives and fresh dark berries and hints of walnuts, yet the palate is driven and very bright with ultra-fine tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows definition and tension. Drink in 2021 and onwards. (11/7/19)"

96 points Wine & Spirits: "This pure merlot from the Bolgheri coast is smooth and velvety. This is the second year in which proprietor Cinzia Merlia has reduced the toast levels in the new French oak barriques where Messorio ages, and the effect is brilliant in this wine from the moderate 2016 growing season, bringing striking clarity to the wine’s juicy plum and black cherry flavors. Notes of fennel bulb and aniseed accent the fruit tones, and the flavors glide on silky tannins toward a long, elegant finish. (Jun 2020)"