| Score: |
97+ AG.
"The 2017 Masseto is fabulous. A wine of tremendous inner perfume and sensuality, the 2017 dazzles from start to finish. Although not the most potent or structured Masseto, the 2017 impresses with its breathtaking finesse. The flavors are vibrant and remarkably pure from start to finish. Blackberry jam, bittersweet chocolate, spice, lavender and licorice all come alive in the glass. I have a hard time thinking of a Masseto with this much sheer allure at the outset. Masseto has so often been a wine of impact, but the 2017 says it all with finesse. It spent 22 months in 100% new oak, a bit less time than is typical, and finished its aging in tank, decisions taken to preserve as much freshness as possible. These are two fabulous wines from Masseto. In 2017, Estate Director Axel Heinz opted for gentle extractions and low temperatures in order to not over-extract in a vintage in which the grapes were already very rich. That approach paid off beautifully, as the 2017 Masseto is magnificent. Readers will also want to check out the new second wine, Massetino, which is once again superb in 2018. A small addition of Cabernet Franc makes Massetino so distinctive." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, Dec 2020 |