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Le Macchiole

Messorio 2021

Toscana IGT

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Messorio, a Merlot monovarietal, is the winery’s crown jewel. Its initial vintage was 1994, and since then it has received extraordinary acclaim, including a 100-point score from the Wine Spectator for the 2004 vintage. The name Messorio refers to the ancient Tuscan practice of wheat harvesting, the most important time of the year in the Bolgheri countryside – once it referred to wheat; these days, it is all about grape harvesting.

VINEYARD

The fruit for Messorio was sourced from the Vignone estate parcel. Yields are managed tightly through the use of low vigor rootstocks and drastic thinning of clusters.

WINEMAKING

After sorting and destemming, 1/3 of the grapes were vinified in concrete vats and the remaining part in steel. A regular fermentation process, long macerations, frequent pumping over and manual punching down and some quick cold soaks in the last few days gave a sweet-smelling and fresh wine, with noble and mouthfilling tannins and excellent complexity on the palate. In late October the wine was left to age in new oak barriques for 18 months, followed by 20 months in bottle.

VINTAGE

The year began with a rainy winter that saw higher than average temperatures, which brought about a slow start to pruning. Temperatures rose slightly in spring, causing rapid budding of both Chardonnay and Merlot, which in turn exposed those two varieties to a higher risk of frost damage at the beginning of April, when temperatures dropped to near freezing overnight for two consecutive nights. Thankfully, there was no evident damage as a result. Thanks to the water reserves accumulated during the winter rains, the rising temperatures during the second half of April brought about a rapid vegetative growth and constant development of the vine shoots, which continued through the entire month of May. The summer had a classic, positive start, with a slight delay of flowering, fruit set, and veraison due to the spring frost; the season ended with a very dry period that continued through all harvest. Harvest began during the third week of August, as it had in previous years, and continued through the end of September, which saw rainfall during the final phases of the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon harvest.

Color

Red

Blend %

100% Merlot

Appellation

Toscana IGT

Farming

Practicing Organic

Alcohol

14.5%

Suggested Retail Price

$344

Reviews

97

Wine Spectator - March 14, 2024 "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."

98

Vinous - June 13, 2024 "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 […] A superb effort from Le Macchiole."

Trade Materials

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Le Macchiole Messorio Bottle Shot

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