Le Macchiole
Messorio 2015
Toscana IGT
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 wood oak barriques for 20 months, followed by 20 months in bottle.
VINTAGE
The 2015 vintage can be described as the most classic expression of the Bolgheri style, a wine of great character and complexity. After a difficult 2014, the steady weather conditions in 2015 led to a long ripening season, without over acceleration of the ripening process.
Winter was mild with average rainfall and Spring saw steady temperatures with significant nigh/day temperature fluctuations and good rainfall.
June saw high temperatures and no rain at all. July saw typical summer weather with night temperatures below average, steady breeze and lack of rainfall. August temperatures were steadier than usual with good rainfall, which led to a slow and constant ripening of the perfectly healthy grapes.
The season ended with an ideal September: temperatures, night/day temperature swings, sunlight, rainfall, everything was perfectly balanced to allow the grapes to reach the best ripeness condition.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Merlot
Appellation
Toscana IGT
Alcohol
14.5%
Reviews
James Suckling - January 7, 2019 “An opulent nose that shows plum cake, blueberry muffins, dark chocolate, mocha, coffee, plum liqueur and hot stones. However, there just the right amount of freshness with thyme, violets and cedar. Full body, very chewy tannins and a long, decadent finish. Very intense, but it still shows form and tension.”
Vinous - March 11, 2019 "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."
Wine Advocate - May 17, 2019 "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."
Wine Enthusiast (Cellar Selection) - May 20, 2019 "Cedar, clove, black currant, leather and Mediterranean herb aromas form the nose on this 100% Merlot. Smooth and enveloping, the full-bodied palate doles out mature black cherry, licorice, espresso and grilled herb framed in polished, fine-grained tannins."
"Seductive"
Wine Spectator - July 26, 2019 "Seductive, yet packs a serious punch. Blackberry, black currant, cedar, iron, coffee and vanilla flavors unravel as this builds on the palate to a long finish. All the elements are in the right place. Merlot"
Reviews
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
Paleo Bianco
Bolgheri
First produced in 1991, Paleo Bianco is a silky, mineral-driven blend of Chardonnay (90%) and Sauvignon Blanc (10%). Perfect for pairing with seafood, this white is well suited to a medium to long aging in bottle.
Scrio
Toscana IGT
Scrio was born in 1994, out of Eugenio Campolmi's wish to produce a wine which would best express his vision of Syrah, his favorite grape variety. As all Le Macchiole wines, Scrio has an original personality and stands apart from Syrah grown in France or anywhere else - it is an extraordinarily compelling meld of deep and velvety Mediterranean fruit with cool climate aromatics and detail. Given the extremely limited production, Scrio is decidedly a hidden gem.
Bolgheri Rosso
Bolgheri
Bolgheri Rosso is a refined, irresistible blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, serving as an introduction to the estate. The wine is, frankly, almost too good at the price. All the intensive artisanal work that Le Macchiole carries out in its vineyards and cellars benefits this wine, and despite more availability than its Paleo Rosso, Messorio and Scrio siblings, it sells out nearly as quickly.
Paleo Rosso
Toscana IGT
Paleo Rosso has been called Italy's landmark expression of Cabernet Franc. This grape variety is growing internationally as a distinct bottling, but Bolgheri has proven to be the single best place in the world to do so. The Mediterranean climate and surroundings result in a wine of extraordinarily expressive, sensual, and textural fruits and savory spices.
