98+
Drinking Window2029 - 2049
From: Tuscany: New Releases from the Coast (Jul 2022)
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)
- By Antonio Galloni on February 2022
“We had a very cool spring in 2019 and almost as much rain as 2018,” Ornellaia and Masseto Estate Manager Axel Heinz relayed. “The biggest difference between the two years is that summer was much drier in 2019. We saw good diurnal shifts leading up to what was a late harvest. For example, we did not have to rush to pick the Merlots, as we often do. Harvest was a week later than 2018.”
The biggest shift I have seen at both estates is a focus on gentler winemaking. I have tasted the new releases from Ornellaia and Masseto at the same time every year for over fifteen years and vividly recall what were once brutally forbidding young wines. That is rarely the case these days. One thing about 2019 is that the alcohols are on the high side despite the lack of shock weather events. “In Bolgheri lack of excess heat lets the vines work very efficiently, which can result in higher sugars, whereas alcohols are often lower in years with excess heat, where the vines shut down to conserve energy.” Masseto fans will note the appearance of Cabernet Franc in the blend for the first time.
98+
Drinking Window2029 - 2049
From: 2019 Tuscany Preview (Mar 2022)
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.
- By Antonio Galloni on February 2022
“We had a very cool spring in 2019 and almost as much rain as 2018,” Ornellaia and Masseto Estate Manager Axel Heinz relayed. “The biggest difference between the two years is that summer was much drier in 2019. We saw good diurnal shifts leading up to what was a late harvest. For example, we did not have to rush to pick the Merlots, as we often do. Harvest was a week later than 2018.”
The biggest shift I have seen at both estates is a focus on gentler winemaking. I have tasted the new releases from Ornellaia and Masseto at the same time every year for over fifteen years and vividly recall what were once brutally forbidding young wines. That is rarely the case these days. One thing about 2019 is that the alcohols are on the high side despite the lack of shock weather events. “In Bolgheri lack of excess heat lets the vines work very efficiently, which can result in higher sugars, whereas alcohols are often lower in years with excess heat, where the vines shut down to conserve energy.” Masseto fans will note the appearance of Cabernet Franc in the blend for the first time.
