Le Macchiole's 2018 Messorio is soft and rich with impressive depth and intensity, all delivered with the softness that only the Merlot grape can manage. This important wine unfolds first to rich cherry and blackberry and then yields softly to secondary notes of spice, baker's chocolate and toasted almond. There is some youthful tightness in the mouth, with Merlot tannins that are hitched to firmness and softness, while showing impressive length all the while. The mouthfeel is most impressive, thanks to its seamless and supple nature that glides smoothly over the palate.
James Suckling (98)
This is very complex, offering tobacco, brown sugar, black olives and currants. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and layered, with very fine tannins and a long, structured finish. Hints of new wood complement the long, cool fruit and phenolics. Give this three or four years to open.
BOW (8.75)
Vinous (95)
The 2018 Messorio is an attractive wine, but it also feels like the most marked by the cooler style of the year. Readers will find a mid-weight Messorio endowed with striking inner sweetness and perfume, if not quite the textural richness that is the norm here. I have seen even the more delicate of Messorios blossom beautifully over time, and suspect that will be the case here as well. The purity of the fruit is remarkable.
Jeb Dunnuck (96)
There is a more reserved aromatic profile initially with the 2018 Messorio, but it is no less complex and unfolds with layers with wet stone, fresh herbes de Provence, red plum, red raspberry, and menthol. The palate is medium to full bodied and has a more linear approach that is attractive and lends energetic drive. A more compact wine at this stage, it will need time to open, although it is refreshing and has lovely mineral texture with a polished feel.
Falstaff (97)
Powerful, shiny ruby with purple glints. Open and accessible on the nose, charming notes of black cherry, wild raspberry and some cardamom. Very good tension on the palate with fine-meshed tannin, juicy, lots of tangy fruit and with tobacco on the finish.
