![]() ![]() The wine shows generous extraction and concentration however, it remains light and lifted throughout. Dark fruit and ripe blackberry bleed slowly into spice, leather, chocolate and sweet tobacco. The new gravity-flow building has angular concrete fermentors and an old-fashioned basket press. The expert team at Masseto navigated those challenges with deft precision in this first vintage executed in the new winery that is now fully dedicated and engineered to fulfill the expectations of this iconic Merlot from coastal Tuscany. The season saw rains just before harvest, and vintners were forced into dramatic last-minute decisions and risks. The 2018 Masseto is the vintage surprise few of us could have expected. If you are hankering for a less massive and less muscular Masseto, this vintage is for you.” – Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate There is evident sweetness here in terms of the wine’s fruit flavors and its tannins, but there also is a cooling vein of acidity that makes the difference. The cool summer season has shaped fresh berry notes of wild blackberry and cassis with drying mineral, tobacco, licorice and tar. This is a subdued and downplayed expression instead. The best vintages of Masseto usually overpower any food dish you put before them. As bold and opulent as Masseto is in the warm vintages, I personally find those wines difficult to finish because the extract, concentration and intensity are so over the top. This is a very distinctive edition of the iconic Italian Merlot that delivers a silky and streamlined approach. “ The 2018 Masseto has developed beautifully over the past few years of its oak and bottle evolution. A long, intense finish concludes the tasting. On the palate silky with a fine, smooth texture, supported by a vibrant fruitiness and a lively acidity, all perfectly integrated. ![]() Intense in colour the nose immediately reveals complexity and freshness with hints of red berries, sweet spices, and a slight aroma of toasted wood. In a vintage where the quality of the terroir, the patience and rigor of the workers made it possible to achieve full ripening, Masseto 2018 represents a most elegant and refined expression. ![]()
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