Masi : Costasera 1980

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of Masi's Costasera 1980

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This wine reveals an intense colour, tending towards garnet with age, typical of the great Amarones from Valpolicella Classica.

Nose
The nose reveals aromas of candied black and red fruits, with plum and cherry to the fore, accompanied by notes of dried fruit, sweet spices, cocoa and sometimes coffee, all testifying to the concentration brought about by the drying of the grapes.

Palate
On the palate, this wine proves ample and structured, with a dense texture, ripe, velvety tannins and an alcoholic warmth balanced by lovely freshness and a savoury quality typical of the Valpolicella Classica terroir. The very long finish lingers on candied fruit, spices and subtle balsamic nuances.

Food and Wine Pairing

Costasera Amarone pairs beautifully with roasted or braised red meats, as well as with dishes simmered in a reduced sauce. It also goes very well with feathered or furred game, whose aromatic power matches the wine's concentration. Well-aged hard or blue-veined cheeses also find a fine echo in its fruity richness. Finally, it can be enjoyed on its own, at the end of a meal, as a meditation wine.

Serving and Cellaring

Costasera 1980 belongs to the category of age-worthy Amarones, a style for which Masi is regularly cited as a benchmark by the specialist press. Its mature tannic structure and aromatic concentration make it a wine designed to evolve favourably over time.

The Refinement and Structure of a Veneto Red Wine by Masi

The Estate

Founded in 1772 in the Vaio dei Masi, at the heart of Valpolicella Classica in Veneto, the Masi house has belonged to the Boscaini family since its founding, now in its eighth generation. Sandro, Bruno and Mario Boscaini each hold 24.5% of the capital of Masi Agricola, ensuring family continuity despite the group's listing on Milan's AIM market since 2015. A pioneer of the modern Amarone style, Masi distinguished itself as early as 1958 with a first single-vineyard Amarone, then in 1964 with the creation of Campofiorin. The house is now recognised for its mastery of appassimento and its role as a benchmark in Valpolicella.

The Vineyard

The grapes for this Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella Classico come from the hillsides of the Vaio dei Masi and the "costas", the western-facing slopes of Valpolicella Classica that enjoy extended sun exposure. This privileged position favours optimal ripeness of the indigenous grape varieties grown by Masi, the traditional foundation of its Amarones.

Winemaking and Ageing

Costasera 1980 is made from grapes subjected to prolonged appassimento, a drying technique that concentrates sugars and aromas before vinification. This method, a historic signature of the Masi house, is followed by extended ageing that reveals the richness and complexity characteristic of the Costasera style.

Grape Varieties

Corvina (70%), Rondinella (20%) and Molinara (10%), indigenous grape varieties emblematic of Valpolicella.