Le Macchiole

Scrio 2019

Toscana IGT

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Scrio was first produced in 1994. Le Macchiole founder Eugenio Campolmi created it because he wanted to produce a wine that would best express his vision of Syrah, his favorite grape variety. Scrio has an original personality and stands apart from Syrah grown in France or anywhere else – it is an extraordinarily compelling meld of deep and velvety Mediterranean fruit with cool climate aromatics and detail. Given the extremely limited production, Scrio is decidedly a hidden gem.

“Scrio” is a Tuscan word that translates to pure, genuine, and honest. It is usually used to refer to people who are pure of heart.

VINEYARD

Scrio is sourced from two vineyards, Puntone and Madonnina, and has extremely restricted yields due to low vigor plants and green harvesting.

WINEMAKING

Following a 25-day maceration in stainless steel, Scrio matures for 16 months in oak barrels (75% new, 25% second passage). It is then further aged for 21 months in bottle before release. Approximately 5,000 bottles are produced each vintage.

VINTAGE

2019 was a vintage with slow and very long ripening and with no excessive heat peaks. The beginning of the year was characterized by a winter with temperatures in line with the season, low rainfall, and a particularly dry climate, except for a slight spike in humidity towards the last week of January, conditions which led to poor development of green manure. The spring season was fluctuating, characterized by a particularly cold climate in the last two weeks of March, with a steady increase in temperatures throughout the month of April, which contributed to a slow and gradual sprout development. In May, low temperatures, and a substantial increase in rainfall, led to a sharp slowdown in the plants’ vegetative development. A particularly hot and dry climate at the beginning of June, combined with the heavy rains of the previous month, contributed to a flourishing shoot development on the plants resulting in clusters that required repeated and targeted green management intervention for the entire summer period. The harvest period started slightly later than in previous years, with the harvest of white grapes in the fourth week of August and then continued with the Merlot grapes between the first and third week of September, along with the Syrah grapes, and concluded with the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties between the fourth week of September and the first ten days of October.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Syrah

Appellation

Toscana IGT

Alcohol

14%

Suggested Retail Price

$285

Reviews

"Understated and gracious"

Vinous - March 16, 2022

"The 2019 Scrio (Syrah) is a wine of remarkable precision that has little, if anything, in common with previous vintages. Understated and gracious, with compelling aromatic presence, the 2019 is all class, all refinement. Bright red-fleshed fruit, spice and subtle earthy notes open nicely. The 2019 is such a gorgeous wine done in a style that emphasizes freshness and a much more ethereal expression of Syrah than was the norm some years ago. I can’t wait to see how it ages." - AG 3/22 

 

"Hint of licorice"

Wine Spectator - June 26, 2023

"Expressive, this red features black cherry, blackberry, floral, mineral and toasted spice flavors. Dense, yet smooth in texture and balanced, with a lingering aftertaste that echoes the dark fruit and mineral flavors, along with a hint of licorice. Very pure and vibrant, this resonates on the long finish. " - B.S 1/23 

 

"Polished and extremely elegant wine"

Wine Advocate (97+) - June 26, 2023

"The Le Macchiole 2019 Scrio benefits from reductive winemaking that is intended to lock in the natural fragrances and elegance of this versatile grape. It is fermented in stainless steel and cement and is partially aged in more oxygen-prone tonneaux. The rest goes into truncated cement vat and ceramic vessels. With Le Macchiole, you don't get a flabby over-extracted Syrah; instead, you get a polished and extremely elegant wine with a tight (trim but not lean) mouthfeel and beautifully integrated tannins. " - M.L 7/22 

 

"Resemblance to a Northern Rhône syrah"

Wine & Spirits - June 26, 2023

"Scrio bears more resemblance to a Northern Rhône syrah than in any previous vintage I’ve tasted, unfolding with violet-scented flavors of fresh red plum and red currant tinged with notes of black pepper and a hint of smoked bacon. It’s in the structure and texture that you feel the fleshy warmth of the Tuscan coast, the velvety tannins rounding out those tangy red fruit tones." — S.J. 4/23 

 

"So enticing"

James Suckling - June 26, 2023

"Blackberry and black olive with black pepper and clove on the nose. Medium-bodied with round, creamy tannins and a juicy finish. Delicious fruit and texture. So enticing." - J.S 7/22 

 

Trade Materials

Other Wines by this Producer

Paleo Bianco

Bolgheri

First produced in 1991, Paleo Bianco is a silky, mineral-driven blend of Chardonnay (90%) and Sauvignon Blanc (10%). Perfect for pairing with seafood, this white is well suited to a medium to long aging in bottle.

Bolgheri Rosso

Bolgheri

Bolgheri Rosso is a refined, irresistible blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah, serving as an introduction to the estate. The wine is, frankly, almost too good at the price. All the intensive artisanal work that Le Macchiole carries out in its vineyards and cellars benefits this wine, and despite more availability than its Paleo Rosso, Messorio and Scrio siblings, it sells out nearly as quickly.

Messorio

Toscana IGT

Messorio, a Merlot monovarietal, is the winery’s crown jewel. Its initial vintage was 1994, and since then it has received extraordinary acclaim, including a 100-point score from the Wine Spectator for the 2004 vintage. The name Messorio refers to the ancient Tuscan practice of wheat harvesting, the most important time of the year in the Bolgheri countryside - once it referred to wheat; these days, it is all about grape harvesting.

Paleo Rosso

Toscana IGT

Paleo Rosso has been called Italy's landmark expression of Cabernet Franc. This grape variety is growing internationally as a distinct bottling, but Bolgheri has proven to be the single best place in the world to do so. The Mediterranean climate and surroundings result in a wine of extraordinarily expressive, sensual, and textural fruits and savory spices.