Massetino | Vineyards Magazine

Massetino 2020

Posted on October 3, 2022 by brusselsdiplomatic Leave a comment

Sharing the same genotype as its older brother Masseto means the perfect blend of power and opulence

The fourth vintage of the estate’s second vin, Massetino 2020 vaunts a clearly defined character emphasised by elegant flavours and aromas. “Massetino’s strong personality is not surprising as it shares the same DNA as Masseto. Just like its older brother, power and opulence go hand in hand with discretion and classicism,” explains Axel Heinz, Estate Director.

2017 was the year when Massetino made its debut. Now, after four magnificent vintages, this fine wine is an interpreter of the extraordinary terroir where the vines yield a powerful yet elegant expression. “Ever since the inception of Masseto, the grapes have undergone the strictest selection to ensure the best possible quality. In 2017, certain Merlot and Cabernet Franc parcels still had not developed sufficient calibre to be included in Masseto, although they showed the potential and personality, alongside other elements not used in the master blend, to make a second vin: Massetino.”

Massetino 2020, which will be released to market on 1 October, is distinguished by an ever-changing microclimate and huge potential. After a wet and mild winter, the spring started slowly, protecting the buds from much-feared frost. A rainy June preceded a prolonged spell of drought and high temperatures until the end of August. The dry conditions prompted a superb, quick, yet even veraison. Rainfall in late August restored the required balance and lowered the temperatures. With swings in day-to-night temperatures, perfect conditions were created for the Merlot to complete the ripening, maintaining the freshness of the grapes. The Merlot was harvested in the first half of September, immediately followed by the Cabernet Franc.

Every parcel was vinified separately to guarantee the identity of each grape variety and vineyard section. Spontaneous fermentation took place in concrete vats using native yeasts aimed at minimizing human intervention and upholding the utmost respect of the grapes. The malolactic fermentation, on the other hand, occurred in 50% new oak barriques. After 12 months of ageing, the wine was blended and returned to the barriques for another 3 months prior to bottling, providing the time needed for each separate detail to become part of the elegant symphony of flavours and aromas.

Winemaker Gaia Cinnirella describes the colours, flavours and bouquet as “a perfect blend of power and opulence on the finish that displays the typical traits of the 2020 vintage. The deep purple hue immediately stands out at first sight, ready to show a strong identity. Ripe cherries and forest floor are discerned on the nose and pair perfectly with the crunchiness and freshness of the fruit in the mouth.” Massetino embodies the genetic makeup of a place where nature never ceases to amaze every year, always revealing new prospects for the future.

The Masseto estate presents the latest vintage of its second wine, Massetino 2019

Posted on December 3, 2021 by brusselsdiplomatic Leave a comment

A harmonious take on the graceful force of the fruit Massetino 2019, now in its third vintage, born from the selection made for Masseto, with which it shares an underlying identity. Released to market on tiptoes in 2019, this second wine immediately revealed itself as the utmost interpretation of the terroir with a well-defined identity.

Vaunting a harmonious character while remaining profound and powerful, like the land where it comes from, Massetino is a Merlot blend that incorporates a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. “Massetino comes from the careful selection of the estate’s vineyards, which is carried out during the blending stage,”explains Estate Director Axel Heinz. “Our consideration was that the selection of wines that did not end up becoming Masseto could have their own life. A new wine is always a new challenge.”

Massetino 2019 displays the typical traits of a vintage with variable weather conditions, which saw cold, wet spells alternate with long, hot and dry stages. The vine growth was delayed, but it was followed by a hot, sunny summer with next to no rainfall. The precipitation at the end of the summer enabled the Merlot to be harvested at the beginning of September and Cabernet Franc in early October, with a seasonal finish that provided the right conditions for ripening.

The cellar philosophy is to reduce intervention to a bare minimum. The exceptional concentration of the grapes requires no sophisticated winemaking mechanisms; just simple measures. In Massetino, delicate infusion is discerned instead of aggressive extraction. In so doing, the wine displays richness without being heavy. In the cellar, everything has been researched for this very reason: from moving the grapes without using pumps, but by gravity alone, to using vats designed to elicit delicate extraction.

Every parcel of the vineyard is vinified separately with a spontaneous fermentation. The malolactic fermentation takes place in 50% new barriques for 12 months. Lastly, the base wines are blended before being aged for another 3 months in barriques.

“Massetino 2019 appears dark and youthful, with perfectly ripe black fruit aromas underlined by notes of new seasoned oak and liquorice. The wine is rich and bodied on the palate, with a refined velvety structure balanced by a frame of refreshing acidity and bold tannins,” describes Axel Heinz, Estate Director.