Sarah Heller MW is Asia-Pacific's youngest Master of Wine. Sarah is not only a wine expert of the finest hour, but also a visual artist. Her Visual Tasting Notes are a unique project; an extraordinary rendition of a wine description.
You need to read these visual tasting notes from top to bottom. The outline of the picture reflects the 'shape' of the wine. All other tasting components have been incorporated into the artwork as well, such as aromas, colours, acids and tannins.
This is how her visual art describes Le Macchiole Messorio 2014: “dark, musty, a smoky nose with a hint of thyme and incense. Then, notes of salty liquorice, dried cherry, tea and tobacco. Raspy, leathery tannins and tight acidity create a shape that starts out narrow and pointed, but flows into a balanced, harmonious rectangle.”
About the winery
Eugenio Campolmi grew up amid a family in the hospitality industry, but he soon realised he was not cut out for that. His dream was to produce wines in the Bolgheri region. In 1983, he and his wife Cinzia Merli grabbed their chance without hesitation. They chose to start with Barbera and Sangiovese, but after a few years they discovered that international grape varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot thrive better in this region. Moreover, Le Macchiole is the first winery in the region who had the courage to release a 100% Cabernet Franc. Unfortunately, Eugenio passed away way too early. But Cinzia has taken the lead and chose to continue his pioneering legacy. She adapted new techniques and began to practice organic viticulture. This didn't just result in healthier vines, but also benefits the overall quality of the wines.
Le Macchiole Messorio 2014
Messorio is one of their fantastic single variety wines, made from 100% Merlot. When they decided to make a wine exclusively from this grape variety, they wanted it to have a very different character from the soft and often associated Merlot style. This Merlot had to be powerful, layered and complex. To say that it was a success would be an understatement! Fermentation of the bunches takes place partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in cement vats. After fermentation, the wine is transferred to new barriques for wood aging, which lasts for 18 months. Le Macchiolo Messorio is considered one of the best Merlots in Italy and maybe even the world…
Want to know more about this magnificent wine? Le Macchiole Messorio 2014
