Masseto 2019 750ml

Intense aromas of blackberries and black olives, together with hints of rosemary bush and lavender. Perfumed and nuanced. Full-bodied, yet so tight and integrated, with weightless tannins that frame the wine in a precise and curated fashion. Very structured and built for aging. It’s rather shy now, but will reward those who are patient. A kind of stealth in its nature. A more thought-provoking edition of Masseto. Needs time to show its true self. Try after 2027.

Tightly wound now, with blackberry, black currant, iron, rosemary, cedar and toasty oak spice aromas and flavors. Though firm and compact, this has plenty of fruit that persists on the vibrant, lingering and complex finish. Reveals very refined tannins. Merlot. Best from 2024 through 2042. 350 cases imported.

This bottle opens a new chapter for one of Italy's most celebrated and collected wines. The first vintage made entirely in its dedicated state-of-the-art winery (and the first vintage with a 10% dabble of Cabernet Franc added to what has historically aways been a pure expression of Merlot), the Masseto 2019 Masseto has two main themes at heart: concentration and elegance. And managing those two seemingly contrasting elements requires a little bit of magic. That's the Masseto magic we look for. The 2019 vintage delivers it in spades with lovely concentrated fruit, blackberry, integrated spice, tobacco, crushed slate, pencil shaving and lots of texture and fiber to push a lasting mouthfeel. The wine's richness translates into density and power to the palate, meanwhile the bouquet reveals fluidity and new sides as the wine opens in the glass. The finish is tapered and focused.

The 2019 Masseto is a remarkably potent wine woven with layers of incense, polished leather, and macchia herbs. The palate is full and refined, with well-managed and fine tannin structure. Luxurious with red and black fruits, it offers notes of pure red apple, blackberry, graphite, and lavender, and it is long and persistent while retaining a transparent nature with a refreshing feel. A beautiful wine, it is showing its pedigree now but should certainly be cellared, as this is going to be a wine to enjoy over the next several decades. Rating: 98+

Savoury notes on the nose, woodland fragrances, cedar, tobacco, blackcurrant and violets. Lovely fresh acidity fills the mouth, lifting the slightly grippy tannins and ripe cherry and plum fruit. Tannins are mouthcoating but fine, supportive and they have a nice feel giving structure to the overall feel. I like the texture here, the wine feels well worked with nothing sticking out. It's perhaps a little sombre and not so overtly vibrant right now with stand out dark chocolate, mint and liquorice elements but there is elegance here despite the power and concentration and the wine feels extremely well made. Malolactic fermentation began in 100% new oak barriques with all the individual lots kept separate for the first 12 months of ageing before being blended and aged for another 12 months in barrel. The wine was then aged for a final 12 months in bottle before being released.