Massetino 2023

The ‘Massetino’ represents the so-called “second wine” of Tenuta Masseto, owned by Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, although in terms of quality it has little to envy from the great Italian red wines. In fact, with its imposing structure and elegance, this Bordeaux blend ranks among the elite of Supertuscans. The ‘Massetino’ was released for the first time with the 2017 vintage in 2019, the same year that saw the inauguration of the new Masseto winery, designed by Italian architects Zito & Mori, exactly 30 years after the release of the first Masseto. The production is extremely limited for this precious bottle that absolutely cannot be missing in a hypothetical collection of the best Supertuscans.

Tenuta Masseto ‘Massetino’ is born from a solid base of Merlot, to which a small percentage of Cabernet Franc is added. The harvest is done manually in crates and, after destemming and a light pressing, the must is conveyed by gravity into concrete tanks where alcoholic fermentation takes place spontaneously. Each individual parcel of the vineyard is vinified separately and the maceration on the skins lasts for over 3 weeks. Subsequently, the wine is transferred into French oak barriques, about half of which are new, where malolactic fermentation and aging for 12 months take place. Once the maturation phase is complete, blending is carried out and then an additional rest of 3 months in wood before the final bottling.

Intense ruby red with garnet reflections is the color of the ‘Massetino’ from Tenuta Masseto. Complex and generous is the olfactory range with its aromas of ripe red fruit and sweet spices, enriched by hints of licorice and tobacco and slightly vegetal notes. The tasting shows itself to be elegant, rich and full-bodied, with great intensity, pronounced freshness, and perfectly integrated tannins.