Masseto 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for Masseto 2023

Tasting

Appearance
This wine displays a deep ruby hue with violet highlights, a sign of its youth and vibrancy.

Nose
The bouquet opens with intense notes of blackberry and ripe cherry, followed by hints of black pepper, sweet tobacco and an elegant touch of graphite.

Palate
On the palate, the structure is both elegant and assertive, supported by youthful, silky tannins. Bright acidity lends lovely freshness that enhances the deep, vibrant fruit, leading to a harmonious and particularly enveloping finish.

Food and wine pairings
This great red wine pairs beautifully with fine roasted or braised meats, such as a prime cut of aged beef, a veal chop or confit milk-fed lamb. It is also an excellent match for game served with rich, full-bodied reductions, as well as mature hard cheeses such as an aged Parmesan or a Tuscan pecorino.

The refinement and balance of a great Tuscan Merlot

The estate
Founded in 1987 in the heart of Tuscany, on the Bolgheri coast, Masseto has established itself as a global benchmark. Born of the inspired decision to plant Merlot on a hill of blue clay, this exceptional wine was originally part of the Ornellaia estate before becoming independent. Now wholly owned by the Frescobaldi family, the estate nurtures its unique identity across a vineyard of around seven hectares. Renowned for its rarity and prestige, this wine embodies Italian excellence, combining power and refinement in the finest tradition of the world's great growths.

The vineyard
Located on the Tyrrhenian coast within the IGT Toscana, the vineyard covers around seven hectares at an altitude of 100 to 110 metres. The vines, which average twenty to thirty years of age, enjoy a gentle slope facing the sea and an exceptional terroir of Pliocene blue clay marl interspersed with gravel and sand. Farmed organically since 2012, the estate encourages biodiversity through cover crops between the rows. Viticulture here is meticulous and entirely manual, with a planting density of around 4,000 vines per hectare to keep the vigour of the vines in check.

The vintage
The year began with a mild winter that encouraged early budburst. A particularly wet spring replenished water reserves in the clay soils and called for rigorous canopy management. The summer proved hot, with temperatures approaching 35°C, but without extreme heatwaves. Thanks to the water reserves built up in spring, ripening was slow and even. Finally, rainfall in late August combined with cool September nights ensured optimal concentration while preserving lovely acidity.

Vinification and ageing
The grapes destined for Masseto 2023 are harvested by hand into small 15 kg crates. After destemming and gentle pressing, the berries are transferred to concrete vats by gravity. Each plot is vinified separately. Fermentation begins spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, at temperatures maintained between 25 and 28°C. Pump-overs and délestages punctuate this stage, followed by maceration lasting 21 to 28 days depending on the lot. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in new oak barrels. The wines are aged separately for one year, then blended before returning to barrel for a further twelve months, for a total of 24 months of oak ageing. A year of bottle ageing completes the process before release.

Grape variety
100% Merlot