Le Macchiole Messorio 1994

The 1994 Messorio is an unbelievable wine with which to begin this tasting. The aromatics alone are profound. Espresso, mocha, grilled herbs, menthol sweet tobacco and spices are just some of the nuances that waft from the glass in this sublime, totally spellbinding wine. The 1994 is at an intersection where a classic sense of structure meets Maremma warmth, yielding a wine of extraordinary class. The oak is beautifully integrated, and everything about this wine is first-rate. In 1994 Le Macchiole produced just two barrels of Messorio. Odds are I will never get to taste the 1994 again, but I will always remember the time I spent with this bottle. The 1994 is simply unforgettable and an unreal achievement for a wine in its first vintage. Readers fortunate enough to still own bottles are in for a treat.