Proprietor Cinzia Merli is relentless in her quest for perfection. That is evident in every decision she makes. The 2022 growing season did not give her and longtime Winemaker Luca Rettondini the most to work with. Warm conditions persisted throughout winter. Intense cold and frost arrived in April, followed by searing heat and drought throughout summer. Harvest began on August 9 with the whites. Rain arrived in mid-August, after which harvest followed for the important reds, starting with Merlot for Messorio. The winemaking team favored short, gentle extractions. As I have noted previously, the new oak imprint in these wines has come down considerably in an approach to emphasize vibrancy. Two thousand-twenty-two is not the best vintage to judge that because the growing season was so extreme, but a recent vertical of Messorio provided a great opportunity to follow that arc of development. Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com  (Mar 2025)

Proprietor Cinzia Merli and long-time consulting oenologist Luca D’Attoma continue to make important strides, as the estate’s wines seem to be heading for a less obvious, decidedly elegant style than has sometimes been the case in the past. A conversion to biodynamic farming in some of the estate’s vineyards and a more enlightened use of French oak are among the recent developments at Le Macchiole. Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, www.RobertParker.com