Winemaker Notes
Born during the warm days of this intense vintage, the nose of Massetino 2022 already expresses all the warmth of the sun that it encountered as it ripened in the vineyard. Vibrancy and length on the palate encourages you to return to the glass to grasp the profound nuances of Massetino 2022, which closes with a freshness reminiscent of pleasant September nights. As for its firm tannins and pulpy red fruit flavors, they carry a beautiful fullness on the palate that never seems to subside.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
I've said that the Masseto feels like watching magic up close, and the Massetino is no less dexterous or impressive, nor does it deliver any less joy. It is perhaps like seeing the performer backstage after the show--hair down, tie loosened, smiling genuinely. A rare moment of intimacy with someone who is always in the spotlight.
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Decanter
Massetino is considered the second wine of Masseto, but I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that it's far more than that. It represents around one-third of the production of Masseto, and judging by the quality of this 2022, next year's release of the grand vin could be absolutely phenomenal. Massetino has always incorporated a portion of Cabernet Franc since its first vintage, 2017 – 10% in 2022. A cool and dry spring led to a slightly late budbreak, followed by 75 days of drought and high temperatures. Summer storms eventually came along to restore balance, and the cool September evenings were perfect for the grapes reach full ripeness. Each parcel was vinified separately and spontaneously in concrete tanks before undergoing malolactic fermentation in barriques, 50% new. After 12 months, the final blend was made and the wine spent a further three months in concrete before bottling. Bright and stony, there's so much energy here. Zingy and sapid, it combines fresh Mediterranean herbs and poised fruit, with more verticality than Masseto 2021 and just as much concentration. Incredible precision and beautiful freshness, especially considering the vintage.
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James Suckling
This is refined and fresh with hints of sandalwood to the beautiful blue fruits. It’s medium-bodied with creamy and polished tannins that frame the blue fruit and hints of crushed stone. Succulent and juicy with a crunchy personality.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Massetino is Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, and the color is a deep purple/magenta with rich extract in the glass. It offers deep notes of dark stones, a very unique perfume of lavender oils, rosemary, cedar, leather, and delicate toasty incense lifting from the glass. Plush and full-bodied, it’s more approachable and round on the palate, with notes of mocha, velvety plush tannins, even acidity, and a good deal of length.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Masseto 2022 Massetino is 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc in a well-played supporting role, especially in a hot vintage such as this. The two varieties make an impressive match to create a wine of density, richness and dark fruit flavors powered by a hearty 15% alcohol content. The philosophy behind Massetino is to allow for a more accessible side of the celebrated Masseto. The two wines share the same DNA in terms of fruit sourcing and winemaking. This edition is packed tight with black fruit, spice and toast. It offers an elegant tannic backbone and good freshness too.
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Wine Spectator
This is opulent, with a lush texture enveloping black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors. Flashes of tar, iron and wild herbs add detail as this red builds to the long finish. Balanced and fresh, with sweet, lingering oak spice notes. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2040. 160 cases imported.
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Vinous
The 2022 Massetino is plump, juicy and irrepressibly gorgeous. Succulent dark-toned fruit, new leather and mocha build nicely as this racy, open-knit second wine from Masseto shows off its undeniable charm. This is a relatively understated, delicate edition of Massetino.
Where the Masseto vineyard now stands, there was once a coastal marsh centuries ago, over which clay deposits formed. The clay was covered by thick deposits of gravel, sand and rock fragments. This geologically diverse terroir is one reason Merlot thrives in the Masseto vineyard. Another contributor is the combination of Mediterranean sun and a gentle wind that keeps the temperatures moderate during the summer. Among the first people to realize the potential of the great terroir of the Masseto hill was the great Russian-American oenologist, André Tchelistcheff, who contributed to the conception of Masseto in the early 1980s. His vision is shared by the vineyard and winemaking staff who pay the utmost attention to every detail in the vineyard and winery.
From the beginning of the harvest to the release of Masseto, three intense years pass, marked by respect of nature and time, constant attention to detail and careful winemaking decisions that best express and respect Masseto's character. The objective for winemaker Axel Heinz is to express both the unmistakable personality of Masseto and the specific character of the vintage.
Legendary in Italy for its Renaissance art and striking landscape, Tuscany is also home to many of the country’s best red wines. Sangiovese reigns supreme here, as either the single varietal, or a dominant player, in almost all of Tuscany’s best.
A remarkable Chianti, named for its region of origin, will have a bright acidity, supple tannins and plenty of cherry fruit character. From the hills and valleys surrounding the medieval village of Montalcino, come the distinguished and age-worthy wines based on Brunello (Sangiovese). Earning global acclaim since the 1970s, the Tuscan Blends are composed solely of international grape varieties or a mix of international and Sangiovese. The wine called Vine Nobile di Montepulciano, composed of Prognolo Gentile (Sangiovese) and is recognized both for finesse and power.