2017 Merlot IGT Messorio - Magnum Le Macchiole

MAGNUM

Suckling 97 points: This wine shows beautiful clarity and class on the nose with roses, tar, currants, green and black olives and plums. It's exceptionally fine-tanned with such polish and finesse. So sophisticated and intense for this vintage. Long, chewy finish, yet this is mouth-filling and caressing. Pure merlot. Try after 2024.

Galloni 95+ points: The 2017 Messorio (100% Merlot) is classy and polished to the core. It's also incredibly young and not at all forthcoming. Messorio is a wine that needs a surprising amount of time in bottle to really shine, and I expect that will be the case here as well. Today, 2017 is all about fruit and density. Time in the cellar should allow its flavors to emerge more fully. Overall, though, this is a fairly restrained style, in keeping with the presentation of 2017 Bolgheri reds more broadly. All the elements come together so gracefully in this striking wine. Production is down around 20%.