Lionel Collection 10 GOAT Syrah IGT Sicilia 2022 750ml

There have been 264 million copies of the number 10 jersey sold worldwide since Lionel Messi began wearing it professionally. In 2022, he won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina, completing the only trophy missing from a career that had already accumulated everything else the sport offers. GOAT — Greatest of All Time — is not a modest claim. In Messi's case, it is the consensus of the sporting world.

The Lionel Collection was created to honor that career in a different medium: wine, specifically the wines of the regions that shaped Messi's life — Argentina, where he was born, and Europe, where he became who he is. The "10 GOAT" range draws from premium growing regions across Italy and Argentina, with this expression sourced from Sicily — the volcanic island in the western Mediterranean whose combination of altitude, heat, mineral soils, and the Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean Sea's breezes produces wine of a character that the Italian mainland approaches differently and the French Rhône approaches from a different continent entirely.

The 2022 Syrah IGT Sicilia is produced in collaboration with MM Winemaker — the winemaking team behind the Lionel Collection's European expressions — from 100% Syrah grown at 400 metres above sea level on Sicily's volcanic terrain. Hand-harvested. Eight months in barrique. Intense ruby red with a rich bouquet of dark plum, blackberry, pomegranate, vanilla, and Mediterranean spice. Bold, structured, and expressive — a Sicilian Syrah with dark fruit concentration, peppery character, and the smooth tannin profile that eight months of careful barrique aging produces. A collectible bottle for the most celebrated footballer in the sport's history. An enjoyable wine for everyone at the table.

Origins & Craftsmanship

The Lionel Collection was created by Lionel Messi in collaboration with Argentinian and European winemakers to reflect his dual cultural identity — born in Rosario, Argentina in 1987, developed professionally in Barcelona and Paris before his final chapter in Miami, and connected to the wine cultures of both South America and Europe throughout his career. The "10 GOAT" range specifically honors his iconic number 10 jersey and the Greatest of All Time designation that the global sporting community has applied to him more consistently than any other athlete in any major sport.

The Sicilian Syrah is produced in collaboration with MM Winemaker — the Italian winemaking team responsible for the Lionel Collection's European expressions — from vineyards situated at 400 metres above sea level on Sicily's volcanic terrain. The altitude is significant: Sicilian Syrah grown at elevation benefits from cooler temperatures than the island's coastal vineyards, producing fruit of greater aromatic complexity and more structured tannin profile than lower-altitude Mediterranean Syrah typically achieves. The volcanic soils contribute the mineral depth and earthy complexity that distinguishes Sicilian red wines from those of mainland Italy.

The 2022 vintage grapes are hand-harvested — a commitment to quality that ensures only fully ripened, undamaged fruit reaches the winery. Following fermentation, the wine ages for eight months in French barrique — a measured aging program that adds the vanilla softness, aromatic spice complexity, and the smoothed tannin profile that distinguish the finished wine from an unoaked Sicilian Syrah without introducing excessive wood character that would mask the grape's naturally bold dark fruit and pepper spice.

The bottle design is a deliberate collector's object: clean, bold, carrying the number 10 and the GOAT designation as visual shorthand for the career it honors. The wine inside is what matters at the table. The bottle is what matters on the shelf.

Critics Reviews

No widely published numeric scores from Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, Wine Enthusiast, or Decanter are available for the Lionel Collection 10 GOAT Syrah 2022 at this time. One importer listing references a 97-point award without naming the specific competition or publication — this score has not been independently verified and is not cited here.

The Barrel Tap (retailer tasting note): "Rich and smooth, with dark fruit, blackberries, black cherry, spice, vanilla, and soft tannins — designed to combine bold fruit, polished structure, and collector appeal in one bottle."

The Liquor Barn (retailer tasting note): "Blackberry and dark plum rise first, followed by black pepper, subtle smoke, and a touch of earthy complexity. Concentrated dark fruit unfolds across the palate with savory spice and firm tannins that provide grip and balance. Long and structured finish with lingering notes of black fruit and cracked pepper."

Sussex Wine & Spirits: "Intense ruby red color and a captivating bouquet of dark fruits, blackberries, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, a harmonious blend of black cherry, spice, and velvety tannins — a refined and expressive take on 100% Syrah."

Mortar Imports official tasting note: "Intense ruby red color, a rich bouquet of red fruits, pomegranate, vanilla, and spices. Perfectly structured, smooth, and persistent flavor. A true balance of tradition and sophistication."

Tasting Profile

Nose Intense ruby red with purple hues — the 2022 vintage's dark fruit concentration and volcanic terroir's color depth immediately visible. The nose opens with the bold, dark-fruit-forward character that Sicilian Syrah at altitude consistently delivers. Dark plum and blackberry lead with a richness and concentration that Mediterranean sun and volcanic mineral soils produce most directly. Blackberry bramble and black cherry add layers of dark fruit complexity alongside subtle floral notes — violets and a barely detectable pomegranate freshness lifting the whole aromatic picture. Black pepper and subtle smoke emerge as the nose develops — the Syrah varietal's most characteristic and most immediately recognizable aromatic contribution, warm and spiced without aggressiveness. Vanilla threads through from the eight months of barrique aging alongside a touch of earthy complexity from the volcanic soils. Mediterranean herbs add a savory, slightly herbal dimension.

Palate Bold, concentrated, and structured — the Sicilian Syrah's volcanic terroir character most apparent in the palate's firm, gripping intensity. Black cherry and dark plum arrive at entry with the full-bodied confidence that 400-metre elevation growing conditions and Mediterranean sun together produce. Concentrated dark fruit unfolds across the mid-palate alongside savory spice — the pepper and smoke that Syrah delivers most distinctively at this latitude and this elevation building steadily through the center. Vanilla and soft oak from the barrique aging add warmth and smooth the tannin profile into the velvety, approachable texture that makes the wine accessible without sacrificing its essential boldness. Firm tannins provide grip and structural balance — present and building, but never harsh. The mouthfeel is full and smooth, well-polished for a Sicilian red at this fruit concentration level.

Finish Long, structured, and pepper-led. Black fruit and cracked pepper carry the close with genuine persistence — the Syrah varietal's most enduring contribution cycling through the extended finish alongside lingering vanilla and a final hint of dark chocolate. The volcanic mineral note from the Sicilian soils adds a cool earthiness at the very end. The finish is the wine's most confident statement of its serious Sicilian origins — bold, structured, and considerably more complex than the celebrity association might suggest to the uninitiated.

Quick Overview

Serving & Occasion

Serve at 16–18°C in a standard red wine glass or Bordeaux bowl. Decanting 30 minutes will deepen the dark fruit and soften the pepper spice into something particularly well-integrated. Outstanding alongside grilled red meats, braised lamb, aged cheeses, smoked preparations, wild mushroom dishes, and any Mediterranean preparation where the wine's bold dark fruit, volcanic mineral character, and peppery spice find their natural food companions. An exceptional gifting bottle for fútbol enthusiasts, Messi admirers, collectors of celebrity-branded wines, and any wine buyer who wants a bottle that starts a conversation before the first pour is made.

Cocktail Suggestions

Sangria Siciliana 750ml Lionel Collection 10 GOAT Syrah · 2 oz brandy · 2 oz orange juice · sliced oranges and lemons · cinnamon stick. Combined and chilled for 4 hours. The dark fruit and pepper character of the Sicilian Syrah makes one of the most richly structured and most genuinely Mediterranean sangrias available from any Italian red wine.