A twenty-year vertical tasting of Merlot Messorio
The Le Macchiole winery was one of the first stars to shine in the sky above Bolgheri, now speckled with stars. Since Cinzia Merli found herself running it alone, or rather with the help of her brother Massimo, an enthusiastic agronomist, and other valid collaborators, the innovation drive has not diminished, in fact quite the opposite.
Messorio, their famous Merlot, was the protagonist of our last trip to Bolgheri. At Le Macchiole we had a vertical tasting of 11 vintages (from 1994 to 2013), which demonstrated the class of this Merlot that speaks of the different vintage trends and their extraordinary context of heat and light.
Messorio 1994
A hot vintage. Produced in limited quantities (2 barriques), it is in an evolved phase with a plum colour, smoky and minty, with autumnal and misty scrubland, a pleasant spicy finish. It has a silky taste, slightly dry, but the finish is still fruity (88/100).
Messorio 1995
A cool vintage. Tangy on the nose, slightly sulphurous, with red fruits, tamarind and cinnamon, intense. It is leaner on the palate, though soft and with good freshness (86/100).
Messorio 2000
A hot vintage. Pleasant aromas of undergrowth on the nose, moss, cinnamon and raspberry. Mouth-filling, rich, vibrant tannins, fresh (92/100).
Messorio 2001
A balanced vintage. Perfect ripening, once past the spring frosts. The aromatic spectrum is very wide, with dried porcini, cedarwood and raspberry. It is silky on the palate, lingering with finished tannins, good length (95/100).
Messorio 2004
A hot vintage. An intense aroma, acidulous at the start, then the notes of strawberry compote , catmint and iron emerge. The taste is sweet, good volume, the finish is a bit dry (87/100).
Messorio 2006
A hot vintage. Intense expression, with a polished note, herbs (oregano), chocolate. The entry into the palate is brilliant, serious structure, lingering, slightly astringent. (88/100).
Messorio 2008
A standard vintage. Exciting bouquet of strawberry, raspberry and catmint typical of the variety, roasted cocoa powder, extraordinarily brilliant and direct. It is plush, dense, almost spherical, fresh and lingering (97/100).
Messorio 2009
A hot vintage. A spicy nose, toasty (cocoa), thyme, Mediterranean scrub. On the palate it is deep, marine, dense, lingering with an astringent finish (90/100).
Messorio 2010
A balanced vintage. Fruity nose, with chalk dust, strawberry, sea breeze, a touch of sweet tobacco, extraordinary precision in the aromas and taste. Silky, juicy in the mouth, complex and dense, deep (98/100).
Messorio 2011
A hot vintage (with cool nights). An intense nose, dried fruit, cocoa beans, ripe red fruit. The taste is rich, fruity, reminiscent of herbs (90/100).
Messorio 2012
A hot vintage (cool towards the end). Bouquet of ripe fruit, strawberries and fresh figs, mint and coffee beans. It is dense and structured on the palate, with good supporting acidity (87/100).
Messorio 2013 (on sale from February)
A balanced vintage. An intense and precise bouquet of ripe red fruit and chocolate, with a touch of herbs, mint and toffee. Caressing on the palate, precise, good volume, fruity and very lingering. Kaizen! Which means “continual improvement” in Japanese (99/100).
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