Masseto: Gorgeous Mini-Vertical

 

We have something very special to offer today, a mini-vertical of the iconic Super-Tuscan, Masseto. Spanning the 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages, this is a selection of bottles and rare large formats that shows both the consistency and quality of this world-class wine. From its almost accidental creation in the mid-1980s – an experimental, and never commercially-released, bottling of Merlot dell’Ornellaia 1986 gave birth to this Cru – Masseto has established its place among the 1st Growths of global fine wine.  Merlot from three superior sites on the Ornellaia estate is blended to create Masseto.  It is made in much smaller quantities and is much rarer, than Ornellaia itself, and is prized by collectors around the world for its richness, balance and texture. The vintages we have available are a showcase for the excellence of Masseto. Both the 2015 and 2016 vintages have a perfect 100 points from Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, while the 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages are not far behind on 97+, 98 and 98+ points from Antonio Galloni respectively. Details are below. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like to secure: 2015 Masseto £1,550 per magnum (1*150cl OWC) in bond – 2 available 100 points Monica Larner The release of this wine comes at a very happy time for the Masseto brand. The stunning 2015 Masseto is hitting the market just as the final touches are being made to the new Masseto winery. I’m told that Masseto might one day see other wines made under that same roof, so we can’t exclude a future enlargement of the Masseto portfolio. The Masseto vineyard now covers seven hectares (divided into three plots), and the vines range from 30 to 40 years old. The wine is absolutely teeming with sensorial spirit that is transmitted through the bounty of the bouquet and the solid tannins of the mouthfeel. Nothing about the wine goes unnoticed or unchecked. Its many working pieces fit together with precision like a well-oiled machine. The 2015 vintage is characterized by a level of sheer exuberance that also defined the 2004 and 2007 vintages. Yet, it also reveals similar power, directness and linearity that we saw in the 2010 vintage. The 2015 Masseto takes the best of all those past vintages and confines those qualities to this single, spectacular bottle. (2018) www.robertparker.com Drink 2020-2050   2016 Masseto £2,349 per case (3*75cl OWC) in bond – 3 cases available 100 points Monica Larner Masseto has pulled off back-to-back home runs. This is the first time that an Italian wine has earned 100 points in successive vintages. The 2016 Masseto is a thunderstorm of emotions, but it manages to keep them under perfect control. Like the 2015 Masseto before it, this vintage is a seamless wine of the highest pedigree. It represents an encore performance, continuing the string of successes that is bringing Italy to the forefront of the wine world. The first thing you’ll notice is the thickness and concentration of the fruit that makes an immediate impact on all the senses, in terms of appearance, aroma and mouthfeel. There is no overstating the sheer power and richness of this iconic vintage of Italy’s groundbreaking Merlot. Despite that considerable mass, this Masseto remains delicate and graceful. You gain better perspective as the wine opens in the glass and reveals deeper layers that were not immediately apparent on first nose: dark fruit, spice, sweet tobacco and black cherry. There is great tightness and laser focus to the fruit. I tasted the 2016 and 2015 vintages together for comparison when I scored this wine, and then I tasted this 2016 edition alone about a month later to confirm my impressions. These vintages are identical twins, two perfect wines. (2019) www.robertparker.com Drink 2022-2050   2017 Masseto £1,600 per case (3*75cl OWC) in bond – 3 cases available £2,800 per 3L d-mag (1*300cl OWC) in bond – 1 available 97+ points Antonio Galloni The 2017 Masseto is fabulous. A wine of tremendous inner perfume and sensuality, the 2017 dazzles from start to finish. Although not the most potent or structured Masseto, the 2017 impresses with its breathtaking finesse. The flavors are vibrant and remarkably pure from start to finish. Blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and licorice all come alive in the glass. I have a hard time thinking of a Masseto with this much sheer allure at the outset. Masseto has so often been a wine of impact, but the 2017 says it all with finesse. It spent 22 months in 100% new oak, a bit less time than is typical, and finished its aging in tank, decisions taken to preserve as much freshness as possible. (2020) www.vinous.com Drink 2025-2042   2018 Masseto £1,600 per case (3*75cl OWC) in bond – 5 cases available £1,450 per magnum (1*150cl OWC) in bond – 3 magnums available 98 points Antonio Galloni The 2018 Masseto is going to be an absolute thrill for readers who follow this iconic Bolgheri Merlot. Silky, mid-weight and supremely gracious, the 2018 reminds me of the 2004 in its aromatic intensity and classic, refined feel. Inky red/purplish fruit, cedar, lavender, espresso, sage and mint are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop with time in the glass. There is so much to like here. More than anything else, I am struck by how ripe and well balanced the tannins are, something that is rare for Masseto, especially in the early going, when the wine can be a bit burly. As was the case throughout Tuscany, the 2018 Masseto is the product of a cool year with a fair amount of rain in August. The 2018 was made from all of the key vineyard plots, minus the young vine replants. It is the first vintage made at the estate’s new winery, which is equipped with concrete fermenters that allow for more flexibility in extraction. Aging was 24 months in French oak, 100% new. (2021) www.vinous.com Drink 2026-2043 2019 Masseto £1,650 per case (3*75cl OWC) in bond – 5 cases available £1,500 per magnum (1*150cl OWC) in bond – 3 magnums available 98+ points Antonio Galloni The 2019 Masseto is fabulous. Silky, gracious and super-refined, the 2019 is a total knock-out. So often Masseto is a powerhouse at this stage, but the 2019 is so elegant, so precise. This is the first year that includes Cabernet Franc, 10% in this case. I can’t say I am at all surprised given how much Franc has added to Massetino. Red berry fruit, mocha, cinnamon and blood orange lend freshness throughout. The 2019 has just been bottle, so it’s early. But there certainly appears to be a lot to look forward to. (Originally Published in March 2022) www.vinous.com Drink 2025-2050 Offered subject to final confirmation. Available in the UK in 6-8 weeks. Offer expires 18th October 2024.