Le Macchiole : Messorio 2014

An original expression of Merlot in a wine from Tuscany, produced with the environment in mind

The estate

Eugenio Campolmi began this viticultural project in the 1980s, intending to keep man and manual work at the heart of the estate. Thanks to his determination, commitment and passion, Le Macchiole was born. His untimely demise did not put an end to his dream. His wife, along with the help of oenologist Luca D’Attoma, decided to continue this adventure. After years of hard work and achievement, the wines are unanimously hailed by critics today. The work at this estate mainly takes place in the vineyard, with the philosophy of respecting natural cycles of life. This respect can also be found in the winemaking process of these great Italian wines.

The vineyard

Messario 2014 is produced on the Toscana IGT appellation and on the vineyard named Vignone 1999.

The wine

Produced for the first time in 1994, Messorio embodies a personal challenge concerning one of the most planted grape varieties in Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast, and in the world: Merlot. The idea from the very beginning was to transform the best bunches into a striking wine with lots of personality, with the aim of moving as far away as possible from the softer, predictable style that is often associated with the grape variety.

The name "messorio" is a reference to harvesting wheat, one of the most fundamental parts of the agricultural cycle.

The vintage

The 2014 vintage was a difficult vintage which posed challenges. With cool temperatures, the work at the vineyard was mostly concentrated on protecting the vineyard against diseases. The harvests of the red grapes were postponed to later than usual in order to obtain the best possible level of ripeness. Thanks to the consistent attention paid to the vines, Le Macchiole is able to produce sublime wines like Messario 2014.

Winemaking and ageing

After manual harvests, which took place during the second week in September, the berries were taken to the cellar to begin a greatly precise vinification process. Fermentation and maceration are carried out in steel and concrete tanks for 20 days. The wine then ages in new oak barrels for 18 months. Bottling took place from 5 August 2016.

Blend

Merlot (100%).