Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Extremely complex aromas of crushed currants, spices and sandalwood with some bark. Violets, too! Full-bodied with creamy, polished tannins and great intensity. Layered and beautiful. Better in 2024, but already beautiful to try.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The beautiful 2019 Giorgio Primo is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Vintner Giampaolo Motta's inspiration is the great wines of Bordeaux, and his vision has never changed despite many passing trends. But perhaps his most important choice as a winemaker (born outside of Tuscany) is his firm commitment to Panzano in Chianti as the ideal home for the French grapes he cultivates. An exciting new Merlot is also in the works, so stay tuned. This is an etched and polished wine with dark fruit, spice, graphite and pencil shavings. The tannins are beautifully managed, and the wine is long and complex.
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Decanter
‘[Winemaking consultant] Stéphane Derenoncourt told me he'd never seen Cabernet ripen like it does here!’ La Massa's Giampaolo Motta told me enthusiastically. The estate’s flagship wine is a Bordeaux blend from vineyards in the Conca d'Oro in Panzano, unique for being the only area to have a mix of all of Chianti Classico’s three main soil types. Herbal, plummy and earthy, this 2019 is rich in chocolate, spice and black fruits. Concentrated and silky, its glossy dark fruit is lifted by a streak of sapid red fruits, a balsamic fresh element and mouthwatering acidity. Keep for a few years before opening.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Taking things up a notch, the 2019 Giorgio Primo is savory and brooding on the nose. Pouring a deep red/purple hue, it reveals notes of boysenberry, pencil shavings, blackcurrants, pine sap, and sage. Full-bodied, it saturates the palate with sweet tannins, a rounded mid-palate, and a great finish. It’s a cellar-worthy wine that’s only going to improve and will harmonize nicely for another few years if stored well. Drink 2026-2046.
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Vinous
The 2019 Giorgio Primo is a worth follow up to the stellar 2018. Dense, rich and explosive, the 2019 races across the palate with dark fruit, chocolate, leather, incense and spice. This sumptuous Cabernet Sauvignon-based Panzano red has a ton to offer. The oak is a bit prominent; otherwise, the 2019 is nicely done.
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.