Vineyards Magazine

Masseto, first released in 1986, continues its longstanding tradition of unveiling each new vintage as the summer ends and autumn begins. From the Tuscan coastline overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the 2022 vintage is now introduced.

The 2022 growing season unfolded beneath the auspices of a quintessential winter, whereby the cool temperatures remained loyal to the expected cadence of the first quarter of the year. This was succeeded by a spring of notable restraint, both cool and dry, bestowing a measured awakening upon the vines. Towards the end of May, the sun asserted its reign, with temperatures peaking at 35°C and an ensuing stretch of several days devoid of rain. Yet nature summoned summer showers to break the dryness, bringing much-needed respite to the terroir. As the calendar turned to September, nocturnal coolness provided textbook conditions for the nuanced maturation of sugars, aromas and tannins, each element weaving complexity into the fruit.

The harvest commenced under propitious skies, affording the technical team with precise timing for each vineyard parcel. On the 6th of September, the first Merlot clusters were gathered by hand, and with deliberate patience, the harvest journey reached its conclusion on the 9th of October. 

“We are satisfied to see how Masseto 2022 carries both the ripe energy of summer and the refined tension of autumn, delivering a vibrant and vertical wine with a lot of purity, a wine with a timeless character. In this very special vineyard that can ripen quickly in hot conditions, we have to be perfect with only one grape variety,” says Marco Balsimelli, Technical Director of Masseto. “That’s the magic of Masseto.” 

Grapes harvested from individual vineyard parcels undergo separate fermentations, each conveying their unique character before being united in a blend that reflects the terroir of the estate. The wine starts its 24-month journey in barriques at controlled temperature. Thereafter, the wine is granted a further 12 months of repose in the bottle, during which time a poised equilibrium is attained, an assured harmony of depth and elegance that has long denoted the distinguished style of this wine.

Forged beneath the radiant clarity of Mediterranean light, caressed by sea breezes and rooted in Pliocene-era blue clay earth once cradled by an ancient seabed, this distinguished vintage emerges with resolute grace. 

Distribution of the 2022 vintage of Masseto will begin internationally in October 2025.