The wines spend 12 months in oak prior to being assembled, after which the final blend spends an additional 12 months in oak prior to being bottled. Fermentation and maceration typically last around 25 days, give or take, depending on the quality of the fruit, after which the wines are moved into 100% new French oak barrels for the malolactic fermentations. There is also a small amount of fruit that comes from the “Vigna Vecchia” plot which is the source of the Merlot that is used for Ornellaia.Įach parcel is harvested and vinified separately. According to Raspini the fruit from these vines bridges the qualities of the wines from the central and upper portions of the vineyard and thus serves to give Masseto its finesse and balance.

The lower stretch of the vineyard, known as “Masseto Junior,” is also the most recent to be planted. Towards the upper part of the hillside (Masseto Alto) the soils contain a higher percentage of rocks and thus yield wines that are more aromatic. The structure of Masseto comes from the central portion of the vineyard (Masseto Centrale), where the terrain is most compact. Set on a gently sloping hill, the vineyard is divided into three sections which contain different clay-based soil types. The Masseto vineyard measures roughly 7 hectares. Its unique, unmistakable personality always comes through, especially in a set of widely diverse vintages, as this vertical attests. The 100% Merlot Masseto, on the other hand, has proven to be a wine of greater singularity. Boasting superb concentration and length on the palate, it is a powerful wine that is in need of at least another few years of cellaring.

The 2001 is an extraordinary Masseto, bursting with layers of vibrant fruit intermingled with finely nuanced suggestions of minerals, menthol and eucalyptus. In just a few short years the 2001 Masseto has become one of Italy’s most collectible wines, and this tasting confirmed that it is fully deserving of the accolades it has received. The 2001 is dazzling from start to finish. An eternal finish rounds things out in style. It is a big, massive Masseto endowed with huge fruit and an exotic, powerful personality. The wine has everything beautifully delineated aromatics, generous fruit and plenty of structure to support all of the elements. The 2001 Masseto lives up to its reputation as a modern-day legend.

Masseto wine alcohol percentage