The awesome, saturated purple-colored 1999 Messorio is a 100% Merlot aged 18 months in French oak prior to being bottled without filtration. The alcohol is a lofty 14.6% and the dry extract number is about the highest technically I have ever seen. The first vintage of this cuvee was 1995, so it is still an infant in terms of how well it develops in the bottle. However, the 1999 is packed and stacked. Aromas of cola, coffee, blackberries, and intense black cherry jam interspersed with mocha, licorice, and pain grille characteristics are followed by a massive wine with great precision, purity, concentration, and length. I don't want to get too carried away since only 4,000 bottles were produced, but this is a riveting example of what can be achieved on the Tuscan coastline. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019. A Leonardo Locascio Selection, Winebow, Hohokus, NJ; tel. (201) 445-0620