97 points James Suckling: "This wine shows beautiful clarity and class on the nose with roses, tar, currants, green and black olives and plums. It’s exceptionally fine-tannined with such polish and finesse. So sophisticated and intense for this vintage. Long, chewy finish, yet this is mouth-filling and caressing. Pure merlot. Try after 2024. (8/24/20)"
96 points Falstaff: "Dense ruby. Very intense nose with rich notes of blackberry and blueberry, followed by smoke and cinnamon. Round and full in approach and course, opens with a lot of fine-meshed tannin, supple, in the final firm drive. Alcohol 14.5%. (8/27/20)"
96 points Wine & Spirits: "The 2017 growing season at this Bolgheri estate was hot and exceptionally dry, with almost no rain from the beginning of May until the end of August. According to proprietor Cinzia Merli, this required a strict selection of the small berries at harvest, with yields coming in about 20 to 25 percent below average. The merlot for Messorio seems to have emerged from this cauldron unscathed, retaining scents of violet and lavender and surprisingly bright acidity that enlivens the rich purple-fruit tones. The tannins, though initially prominent, begin to soften with air as the wine takes on notes of black olive and licorice. This should continue to flesh out with a few years in the cellar. (Oct 2021)"
95+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "[$275/750ml list] The 2017 Messorio (100% Merlot) is classy and polished to the core. It is also incredibly young and not at all forthcoming. Messorio is a wine that needs a surprising amount of time in bottle to truly shine. I expect that will be the case here as well. Today, the 2017 is all about fruit and density. Time in the cellar should allow for its aromatics to emerge more fully. Overall, though, this is a fairly restrained style, in keeping with the showing of 2017 Bolgheri reds more broadly. All the elements come together so gracefully in this striking wine. Production is down around 20%. Drink: 2025-2037. (Jan 2021)"
95 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "Messorio is a wine that beautifully reflects the characteristics of the vintage and is a very accurate measuring stick of how any single vintage will eventually perform both in terms of near-term accessibility and long-term cellar aging. That said, the Le Macchiole 2017 Messorio plays its strongest cards in terms of mouthfeel and texture, revealing a robust structure and firmly integrated tannins that come from both the richly concentrated fruit and the careful use of oak. The wine shows a heavy center of gravity and a solid base of dark fruit that is enhanced by caramel, brown sugar, spice and creamy blackberry preserves. It does offer immediate appeal, but I'd wait a few more years to give this 2017 Messorio more time to flesh out and evolve. Drink: 2022-2040. (Oct 2020)"
95 points Aldo Fiordelli (Decanter): "The harvest of Merlot for Messorio in 2017 commenced on 17 August and finished on 7 September, producing around 12,000 bottles. Since 2015 it has been fermented with selected yeasts in concrete vessels at a moderate 26°C then aged in 100% new French oak with a light and progressive toastiness. The result is a slightly herbal Merlot with precise sweet cassis and plum fruit and depth of star anise and leather. Dense on the palate with red fruit flavours, it imposes powerful yet ripe tannins with crisp acidity and balanced alcohol. Drinking Window: 2020-2040. (Jun 2020)"
96 points Falstaff: "Dense ruby. Very intense nose with rich notes of blackberry and blueberry, followed by smoke and cinnamon. Round and full in approach and course, opens with a lot of fine-meshed tannin, supple, in the final firm drive. Alcohol 14.5%. (8/27/20)"
96 points Wine & Spirits: "The 2017 growing season at this Bolgheri estate was hot and exceptionally dry, with almost no rain from the beginning of May until the end of August. According to proprietor Cinzia Merli, this required a strict selection of the small berries at harvest, with yields coming in about 20 to 25 percent below average. The merlot for Messorio seems to have emerged from this cauldron unscathed, retaining scents of violet and lavender and surprisingly bright acidity that enlivens the rich purple-fruit tones. The tannins, though initially prominent, begin to soften with air as the wine takes on notes of black olive and licorice. This should continue to flesh out with a few years in the cellar. (Oct 2021)"
95+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "[$275/750ml list] The 2017 Messorio (100% Merlot) is classy and polished to the core. It is also incredibly young and not at all forthcoming. Messorio is a wine that needs a surprising amount of time in bottle to truly shine. I expect that will be the case here as well. Today, the 2017 is all about fruit and density. Time in the cellar should allow for its aromatics to emerge more fully. Overall, though, this is a fairly restrained style, in keeping with the showing of 2017 Bolgheri reds more broadly. All the elements come together so gracefully in this striking wine. Production is down around 20%. Drink: 2025-2037. (Jan 2021)"
95 points Monica Larner (Wine Advocate): "Messorio is a wine that beautifully reflects the characteristics of the vintage and is a very accurate measuring stick of how any single vintage will eventually perform both in terms of near-term accessibility and long-term cellar aging. That said, the Le Macchiole 2017 Messorio plays its strongest cards in terms of mouthfeel and texture, revealing a robust structure and firmly integrated tannins that come from both the richly concentrated fruit and the careful use of oak. The wine shows a heavy center of gravity and a solid base of dark fruit that is enhanced by caramel, brown sugar, spice and creamy blackberry preserves. It does offer immediate appeal, but I'd wait a few more years to give this 2017 Messorio more time to flesh out and evolve. Drink: 2022-2040. (Oct 2020)"
95 points Aldo Fiordelli (Decanter): "The harvest of Merlot for Messorio in 2017 commenced on 17 August and finished on 7 September, producing around 12,000 bottles. Since 2015 it has been fermented with selected yeasts in concrete vessels at a moderate 26°C then aged in 100% new French oak with a light and progressive toastiness. The result is a slightly herbal Merlot with precise sweet cassis and plum fruit and depth of star anise and leather. Dense on the palate with red fruit flavours, it imposes powerful yet ripe tannins with crisp acidity and balanced alcohol. Drinking Window: 2020-2040. (Jun 2020)"
| Product SKU | 342189 |
| Producer | Le Macchiole |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Tuscany |
| Varietal | Merlot |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Size | 1.5L |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 14.5% |
| Ships To |
