MESSORIO

Rich, ripe and dense, sporting black cherry and leather flavors and hints of tar and tobacco leaf. Powerful and well-structured, with a long, tobacco- and mineral-inflected finish. Merlot. Drink now through 2024. Rating: 94 Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (Sep 2015)

Good full ruby. Initially reduced aromas of coffee and cocoa, with very ripe dark fruit and vanilla notes emerging with aeration. Very savory, rich and dense, with ripe black fruit and herb flavors joined by rising dark currant, mocha, marzipan and mineral elements on the complex finish. Tannins are youthfully chewy. D’Attoma says that Messorio should never be touched for at least two years after bottling as it needs to settle down and smooth out. Although 2011 was a warm year, this is a much better showing for Messorio than was the 2009, another product of a hot year. Rating: 92+ Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (Dec 2014)

Cinzia Merli tells me that this vintage was not as hot as initially portrayed. In fact, she says harvest came earlier in 2012 following the summer heat (compared to 2011). The 2011 Messorio is the result of a slightly later growing season that was extended thanks to some cooling rains in June and July. This is a smooth and balanced wine that does not show any of the jammy or overtly sweet notes you get with Merlot in parts of central Tuscany. The bouquet is redolent of cherry, leather, tobacco and plum. There are lingering mineral notes that add definition and focus. Again, this wine shows an excellent quality of tannins with long-lasting softness, silkiness and textural finesse. Drinking range: 2015 - 2025 Rating: 94+ Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (Oct 2014)