Winemaker Notes
First produced in 1994, Messorio started as a personal challenge with one of the most planted varieties not only in Bolgheri, but across the Tuscan coast and throughout the world: Merlot. From the start, the idea was to take the best bunches and transform them into an impactful wine with a big personality, staying as far away as possible from the more soft, predictable style that is often associated with Merlot and instead making a thoroughbred eager to win the race. The name "Messorio" refers to the wheat harvest, one of the most fundamental parts of the agricultural cycle.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Messorio (Merlot) is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Dark, layered and enveloping, the 2021 boasts notable textural richness from start to finish. Dark red-toned fruit, spice, mocha, new leather and licorice fill out the layers effortlessly. There’s plenty of energy and depth to balance some of the more overt qualities. These days, Messorio is not as opulent as it was during the 1990s when it became an iconic wine in Italy, but the natural suitability of Maremma for producing exotic, sumptuous Merlots simply can’t be denied. The 2021 spent 16 months in French oak barrels, with a small amount of the wine (7%) that was aged in stoneware amphora. It is a superb effort from Le Macchiole.
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Wine Enthusiast
Implacable is the word that comes to mind at the first sip of the 2021 Messorio. Making wine in Bolgheri has only gotten more complicated in the last vintages, and most people would point to Merlot vineyards as the place the impending storm will first hit, but like a lighthouse whose light is better appreciated not despite but because of inclement conditions, Le Macchiole's Messorio seems to shine more brightly under duress. A beacon of light. Drink 2028–2041, or when you find yourself on a dark path.
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Wine Spectator
Plum, pomegranate and blackberry fruit is framed by toasty oak and vanilla notes in this fresh, brilliant red. Iron and tobacco accents add detail as this cruises to the long, saturated finish. The tannins are present yet within bounds, leaving a mouthcoating impression. This is more about finesse than power, showing poise and length. Merlot. Best from 2027 through 2046.
Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.