Le Macchiole Messorio Toscana 2002

Le Macchiole is an estate in the Bolgheri district of Tuscany particularly best known for three varietal IGT Toscana red wines. Paleo, Messorio and Scrio are often judged to be among the best examples of their type produced in Italy.

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.

Spring was marked by slightly above-average temperatures and heavy rainfall. It rained non-stop from July on, with below-average temperatures. During harvesting, weather conditions were quite changeable, with only one period of steady good weather during which we harvested some fairly ripe grapes, but then the rain took over again preventing all grapes from achieving perfect ripeness. Harvest 2002 was one of the most challenging of the decade.

Tasting Notes:
Critic tasting note: "Le Macchiole Messorio is simply one of the best merlot made in the world and would easily make my top 10 list. The fruit is bright but with a savoury earthy undercurrent, almost a la Mendoza or like a Pomerol, and that makes it fun to drink. They only make 600 cases each year but after almost two years in barrique this rich yet restrained red with supple jammy black stone frit flavours is a delight to drink. Perfect acidity makes it a candidate to age as well. This is the merlot the film Sideways never new existed. (Anthony Gismondi and Stuart Tobe)." - 91/100, Gismondi on Wine

Winery: Le Macchiole
Wine: Messorio Toscana 2002
Region: Toscana IGT, Italy
Vintage: 2002
Grape Variety: 100% Merlot
ABV: 14%
Size: 750ml

勒·馬奇奧勒是托斯卡納的波爾蓋利區一家著名酒莊,以三款特色IGT托斯卡納紅葡萄酒而聞名:Paleo、Messorio和Scrio,常被認為是意大利同類型葡萄酒的最佳代表。

Messorio是於1994年首次推出的,起初是酒莊主人的一個個人挑戰,選用了波爾蓋利地區以及整個托斯卡納海岸乃至全世界最廣為人知的品種之一:梅洛。從一開始,酒莊就決心要選摘最優良的葡萄束,酿造出一款有魅力個性的葡萄酒,遠離梅洛通常柔軟可預測的風格,打造出一匹勇於競技的純種佳釀。"Messorio"一詞指的是小麥收割,是農業循環中最為根本的部分之一。

2002年春季氣溫略高於平均,降雨量也大。7月以來一直持續下雨,氣溫低於平均。收獲期間天氣多變,只有一次短暫的好天氣足以讓葡萄充分成熟,此後又再次下雨,阻礙了全部葡萄的完美成熟。2002年收成是這十年中最具挑戰性的一年。

品酒筆記:
評論家評價: "勒·馬奇奧勒的Messorio無疑是世界上最出色的梅洛酒之一,輕易會進入我的前10名榜單。果香明亮,卻又帶有一股泥土氣息,近似梅多薩或波莫爾,使其飲起來很有意思。每年只生產600箱,但經過近兩年的橡木桶陳釀,這款濃郁而內斂的紅酒,展現了細膩的果醬黑石子風味,酸度恰到好處,也可以長期窖藏。這正是電影《午後閒情》所缺乏的梅洛。" - 91/100分, Gismondi on Wine

酒廠:勒·馬奇奧勒
酒名:Messorio Toscana 2002
產區:托斯卡納IGT,意大利
年份:2002
葡萄品種:100%梅洛
酒精度:14%
容量:750ml