Le Macchiole : Messorio 2019

Tasting Notes and Recommendations for Le Macchiole’s Messorio 2019

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep, dark garnet hue, with subtle brick highlights along the rim of the glass.

Nose

The bouquet reveals aromas of black plum and blackberry, complemented by warm spice notes. With aeration, floral fragrances of violet and lavender rise above the fruity and oaky nuances.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows exceptional balance and remarkable finesse. Flavors of black cherry, plum, spice, mocha, and floral notes unfold progressively. The noble, enveloping tannins have a fine texture that avoids any heaviness. Vanilla and toasted spices, imparted by aging in new barrels, coat a core of black fruit, earth, and cedar. The whole is graceful and harmonious, with a persistent, firm finish.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, especially Tuscan-style beef. It also goes well with roasted or braised poultry served with rich sauces, duck with fruit, or roasted pork. Dishes featuring wild mushrooms, truffled risottos, and preparations enhanced with Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary or thyme also make excellent pairings.

Serving and Cellaring

Messorio 2019 can be enjoyed now after a few hours of decanting, or cellared for an additional two to three years. This wine has aging potential of at least 15 to 20 years, i.e. until around 2039.

An outstanding Tuscan Merlot combining opulence and finesse in Bolgheri

The estate

Founded in 1983 by Eugenio Campolmi and his wife Cinzia Merli, Le Macchiole has established itself as one of the most prestigious estates in Tuscany. After Eugenio’s untimely passing in 2002, Cinzia took over the estate’s management with determination, carrying forward her husband’s pioneering vision. Today, she also chairs the Consortium for the Protection of Bolgheri DOC since 2025. The estate spans 27 hectares of vineyards farmed biodynamically since 2010, and stands out for its bold approach that favors single-varietal wines. Cinzia’s sons, Elia and Mattia Campolmi, now represent the new generation alongside winemaker Luca Rettondini.

The vineyard

Messorio 2019 comes from a specific 2.5-hectare parcel located in Bolgheri, on the Etruscan coast of Tuscany, just 5 kilometers from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The soils feature a classic mix of clay, silt, sandstone, and limestone, enhanced by a fine mineral structure. The Mediterranean climate, marked by slightly cooler temperatures than the rest of the Tuscan coast and by refreshing sea breezes, encourages slow, balanced ripening of the Merlot. The vines, managed according to biodynamic principles, benefit from deliberately limited yields of around 800 grams per vine.

The vintage

The year 2019 in Bolgheri was characterized by slow, very long ripening, without excessive heat spikes. Winter brought normal seasonal temperatures with low rainfall and pronounced dryness. Spring proved changeable, with a late cold spell at the end of March followed by a gradual rise in temperatures in April, leading to slow budbreak. May, cool and rainy, slowed vegetative development. In early June, warm, dry conditions followed May’s rains, prompting vigorous growth that required careful canopy management over the summer. The Merlot harvest took place between the first and third weeks of September.

Vinification and aging

After rigorous sorting and destemming, about a third of the Messorio 2019 grapes were vinified in concrete tanks, with the remainder in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Fermentation followed a steady course with long macerations, frequent pump-overs, manual punch-downs, and cold soaks in the final days. After natural malolactic fermentation, this IGT Toscana wine was transferred at the end of October into new French oak barrels for 18 months of aging, followed by an additional 20 months of bottle aging before release.

Grape variety

100% Merlot