![]() ![]() The objective for winemaker Axel Heinz is to express both the unmistakable personality of Masseto and the specific character of the vintage. ![]() His vision is shared by the vineyard and winemaking staff who pay the utmost attention to every detail in the vineyard and winery.įrom the beginning of the harvest to the release of Masseto, three intense years pass, marked by respect of nature and time, constant attention to detail and careful winemaking decisions that best express and respect Masseto's character. Among the first people to realize the potential of the great terroir of the Masseto hill was the great Russian-American oenologist, André Tchelistcheff, who contributed to the conception of Masseto in the early 1980s. Another contributor is the combination of Mediterranean sun and a gentle wind that keeps the temperatures moderate during the summer. This geologically diverse terroir is one reason Merlot thrives in the Masseto vineyard. The clay was covered by thick deposits of gravel, sand and rock fragments. Where the Masseto vineyard now stands, there was once a coastal marsh centuries ago, over which clay deposits formed. Located in the vaunted Bolgheri region of Tuscany, Masseto was first released in 1986 and quickly gained a reputation as one of the world's most sought after and extremely allocated wines. Masseto is a rare, single vineyard wine made entirely from Merlot grapes grown on the vineyard bearing the same name. These vintages are identical twins, two perfect wines. I tasted the 20 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. There is great tightness and laser focus to the fruit. 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. The particularly regular vintage, along with an ideal temperature during the harvest, is reflected in a classic Masseto, with a perfect balance between a mature, yet complex, aromatic expression of great freshness and a rare quality of ample, silky and smooth tannins. Despite that considerable mass, this Masseto remains delicate and graceful. There is no overstating the sheer power and richness of this iconic vintage of Italy's groundbreaking Merlot. 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. It represents an encore performance, continuing the string of successes that is bringing Italy to the forefront of the wine world. Like the 2015 Masseto before it, this vintage is a seamless wine of the highest pedigree. The 2016 Masseto is a thunderstorm of emotions, but it manages to keep them under perfect control. This is the first time that an Italian wine has earned 100 points in successive vintages. Masseto has pulled off back-to-back home runs. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |