CLIMATE
AND VINTAGE

2019 was a year characterized by a particularly variable climate, which alternated periods of cold and rain with long waves of drought and heat.

After a fairly normal winter, budding took place in the first week of April. The cold and rainy conditions throughout the month of April and May significantly slowed the development of vegetation, delaying flowering by 10 days compared to usual. In June, the weather suddenly turned hot and dry with temperature peaks of 37 ° C reached at the end of the month. Throughout the summer, the climate remained warm and sunny, with temperatures 2 ° above average and 45 consecutive days without rain. In the last week of July, the long period of drought was interrupted by two days of rain, which restored the temperature to the seasonal norm, creating the ideal conditions for the ripening of the grapes.

After another series of showers at the beginning of the month, the Merlot harvest began on 5 September with the youngest vineyard and continued until 20 September in perfect conditions. The harvest was completed with the Cabernet Franc on October 1st.

VINIFICATION
AND REFINING

The bunches, harvested by hand in 15 kg crates, were selected manually on a double sorting table before and after destemming, then subjected to soft pressing. Fermentation took place in concrete tanks, while for small portions of the vineyards in barriques at temperatures between 25 and 30 ° C. Maceration times ranged from 21 to 28 days. The malolactic fermentation began in 100% new oak barrels, keeping the various batches separate for the first 12 months of aging.

Subsequently, the wines were blended and put again in barrique for another year, for a total of 24 months. As usual, the Masseto 2019 was left to refine for another 12 months in the bottle before being placed on the market.

NOTES OF
TASTING

Masseto 2019, harvested slightly later than usual, benefited from the sunny but mild climate of early September, which gave it a dense but harmonious expression. The young color suggests a rich and intense wine, the nose shows textbook hints of ripe cherries, violets, licorice and dark chocolate. The palate is broad and dense with velvety and refined tannins that envelop the palate, leaving a fresh and vibrant finish.

Tasting November 2021

“In Masseto we try to limit what is more
our action on wine is possible.
Our goal is simple:
capture the spirit of nature
and bring it to its highest levels. "

“Masseto is an uncontaminated, harsh and primitive place. Not easy to work with. The conditions
they are extreme. We are always on the verge of getting a fantastic wine, but the result
it is not at all obvious. The risk of failure is always there. It is truly a magical place
where nature makes the most important decisions. "

Crucial for the yield of the vineyard are the Pliocene blue clays, present for millions of years just below the surface of the soil. Here once was a coastal swamp on which, over the centuries, clayey deposits rich in salt and traces of marine life have formed.

The erosion of the surrounding hills has brought layers of mud, gravel, sand and rock fragments. In later times, earthquakes folded these layers of soil, removing the blue clays from the sea and bringing them to the surface on the Masseto hill.

Thanks to their mineral structure, the clays are able to absorb a quantity of water equal to their weight. They nourish the roots of the vines, keeping them fresh and never completely dehydrated, even in the hottest summers. Together with the light coastal breezes, the Mediterranean sun and the light reflected from the sea, this type of soil gives the clusters the ideal conditions for a slow ripening of polyphenols.

"The heart of Masseto, its secret side,
it is a Mahler symphony played by an orchestra
full. Its outward appearance is a little
chamber music ensemble. It is the power
of that orchestra to request care and attention. "

Axel Heinz

Estate manager