The 2001 Messorio, 100% Merlot, is not quite at the level of the 1997, one of the most perfect wines ever made in Tuscany, but it is pure sumptuousness and volume from start to finish. Perfectly ripe and sweet, dense and voluminous but, oh, so velvety, an unending cascade of ravishing, spicy fruit, this is Tuscan Merlot at its best and another wine with two decades of life ahead.Importer: Domaine Select, New York, NY; tel. (212) 279-0799

This was a cooler year on Coastal Tuscany and the 2001 Messorio shows the signs of a slower and more prolonged evolution. The summer months were slightly cooler than average with more evident diurnal shifts towards the end of the growing season that helped to amplify the wine’s dark fruit aromas and its beautiful sense of grace and balanced power. A deep freeze during spring months naturally reduced yields in the vineyards. The wine’s slow and steady bottle evolution has established profound depth and silky persistence. The bouquet is highly distinctive thanks to the mineral notes and a touch of delicate herb (that reminded me of green clover) that lifts so delicately from the wine’s darkened core. The tannins are smooth and beautifully polished.