The 2013 vintage will be remembered as one of the latest harvests in Masseto’s history, with particularly favorable growing conditions for Merlot
Bolgheri, 5 October 2016 – Masseto, Italy’s most collectible single vineyard wine, is proud to announce the launch of its 2013 vintage. Describing the 2013 harvest, Masseto Director Alex Belson stated, “Masseto 2013, which is being released in this period, is once again testimony to the unique alliance of terroir, climate and human talent determining its timeless value. This vintage will be remembered as one of the latest harvests in the history of Masseto to date.”
Masseto is a unique place and a unique wine. The mosaic of different soils, including the exceptional presence of gray Pliocene clay, coupled with the gentle breezes coming off the sea during the warm summer months and the intensity of the sunlight, allow the vines to develop and ripen gradually and contribute to granting Masseto its enchanting combination of freshness and ripeness.
Commenting on his interpretation of the 2013 harvest, Estate Director and Winemaker Axel Heinz stated, “Masseto 2013 is the result of overall late, fresh weather during the harvesting period. These are particularly favorable conditions for Merlot, which was able to ripen slowly and completely in sunny weather, without excessive heat. These conditions enhanced the full expression of the aromatic qualities and perfect ripening of the polyphenolic content. Intense ruby in color, the nose immediately reveals fully ripe fruitiness endowed with great freshness and complexity, underlined by delicate notes of vanilla and cocoa. On the palate, the wine is substantial and rich, with great density, and a rare tannic quality of silkiness and smoothness. Black fruit aromas are accompanied by a strong note of freshness and a long, elegant finish, which is prolonged with a delicate hint of cocoa.”
Since its first vintage in 1986, Masseto has received continuous international acclaim. Its extraordinary terroir and the painstaking care given to its vines have made Masseto one of the world’s truly outstanding wines. The 2013 vintage is available now and imported nationally by Folio Fine Wine Partners at a retail price of $700 USD.
About Masseto
Masseto is a cru wine from the Masseto vineyard. A superbly-structured, long-lived Merlot, Masseto is produced in very limited quantities, through a rigorous quality-selection process that ensures the highest-possible quality. Masseto is a hill, with three distinct growing sections. The central band shows the highest percentage of Pleistocene clays, which are the terroir’s “foundation formation.” This section of the slope is the most important, the “spine” as it were, and gives the wine its impressive tannic structure. The highest area, known as Masseto Alto, displays sandier soils with more rock; it yields less of a crop, but the resulting wine is quite linear and concentrated. Finally, the lowest part of the hill, used for the first time ten years ago, is known as Masseto Junior; its sandy clay soils yield a lighter but very important crop, inasmuch as its wine can temper the aggressive tannins of the other sections and reinforce the texture of the final wine. The ceaseless efforts of the staff and ideal weather and geology have combined to bring Masseto, in just twenty years, since its first vintage in 1986, top national and international accolades. Wine Spectator awarded Masseto 2001 its highest score, 100/100, and Wine Advocate gave 99/100 to Masseto 2006. In addition, Masseto consistently achieves high rankings in Italy’s main wine guides, Gambero Rosso, Espresso, Veronelli, Duemilavini AIS, and Luca Maroni.
About Folio Fine Wine Partners – www.foliowine.com
Folio Fine Wine Partners was founded in 2004 by Michael Mondavi and his wife, Isabel, with their children, Dina and Rob Jr. Folio is an importer, fine wine agency and producer of quality wines from the world’s premiere and emerging wine regions, providing sales, marketing and public relations services to wine brands from California, Italy, Spain, France, Argentina, Austria, and Germany. Wines from California include Animo, Emblem, Hangtime, Isabel Mondavi, M by Michael Mondavi, Oberon and Spellbound. From Italy, are the wines of Attems, Bruno Giacosa, Coppo, Romano, Danzante, Donnafugata, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi, Luce della Vite, Masseto, Ornellaia, and Villa Sandi. The Spanish portfolio includes Artadi, Capafons-Ossó, Fillaboa, Leda, Nita, Palacios Remondo and Vall Llach. From Argentina are the wines of Ben Marco, Crios, Nosotros and Susana Balbo, with Charles Heidsieck (France), Laurenz V (Austria), and Prinz von Hessen (Germany) completing the portfolio.
