MESSORIO

2015 Le Macchiole

EN PRIMEUR

This year’s Messorio is again very successful. Lithe and muscular but with deep and dark Merlot juice at its heart, with superb focus and drive. The core is intense and loaded with firmish black fruit-flesh and a savoury sinew. Dark and brooding for now with seasoning twists of pepper and some lovely leafy, crunchy notes. Serious stuff and with great presence. Well framed by impressive fine-grained tannins that point to a good, mid-to-long term future for this well-proportioned, pure Merlot.L&S (Mar 2019)

75cl bottles (wood case of 6)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

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. Drinking range: 2022 - 2043 Rating: 97 Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (May 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. Hints of the exoticism Messorio will ultimately develop in bottle are starting to appear, but the 2015 needs more time to be at its finest. Drinking range: 2024 - 2036 Rating: 96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2019)

An opulent nose that shows plum cake, blueberry muffins, dark chocolate, mocha, coffee, plum liqueur and hot stones. However, there is 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. Drink in 2025. Rating: 95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Oct 2018)

The Merlot grapes for Messorio were harvested in two goes: on the second and third week of September. Richlycolored grapes, good acidity and full maturity of the seeds. At the winery, the grapes were carefully sorted, before being gently. destemmed and 1/3 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 us a sweet-smelling and fresh wine, with noble and mouth-filling tannins and excellent complexity on the palate. In late October the wine was left to age in wood barrels. Winemaker's notes (Jun 2018)

Initially put onto the wine map by Eugenio Campolmi in 1983, the Le Macchiole estate has been run by his wife Cinzia since 2002. In the heart of Bolgheri, with 22 hectares of vineyard over much of the best soils of the region these are, along with the Sassicaia and Ornellaia's vineyards, also among the oldest and most established vines in Bolgheri. Their careful selection of grape varieties and cultivation techniques according to climate and soil has led them to concentrate on Merlot, Syrah and most importantly Cabernet Franc, a variety which can express itself so well in the hands of Le Macchiole.

All of their wines are marked by a unique and unmistakable character. Full bodied wines, and yet with clean and elegant flavours, leading to great freshness and finesse, they are incredibly sought after world-wide. The estate has been organic since 2002, and they are experimenting with biodynamics.

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LE MACCHIOLE PRIMEUR FAQ

WHY ORDER PRIMEUR OR PRE-SHIPMENT? Ordering your wine before it is shipped from the producer means you secure the best possible price before the wines become available in the UK market. It is also the best way to avoid disappointment as some wines will sell out before arrival in the UK.

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PRICING: All prices are quoted IN BOND ex-VAT, by the case size stated.

DELIVERY - TIMING: This is a primeur offer so the wines are not yet physically available for delivery. They are expected to be available for delivery in the UK by the end of 2019. We do not anticipate any problems but please be aware that delays to delivery may occur should Britain's possible departure from the European Union result in additional border customs checks or other regulatory requirements. Any additional or unforeseen duties, tariffs, charges or other financial liabilities relating to 'Brexit' must be due to the customer and will be added to orders as required.

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