A wine that perfectly reflects its terroir: where the hills meet the sea
New York, NY, September 6, 2022 – Masseto, Italy’s most collectable wine estate, is pleased to announce the new 2019 vintage release on the fine wine market.
The year 2019 was characterized by a highly variable climate, which alternated periods of cold and rain with long bouts of drought and heat. After a rather normal winter, budding took place in the first week of April. Cold and rainy conditions throughout April and May considerably slowed down development of the vegetation, delaying flowering to ten days later than usual. In June, the climate suddenly turned hot and dry, with peak temperatures of 37°C (98.6°F) reached at the end of the month. All summer long the weather remained hot and sunny, with temperatures 2°C higher than average and 45 consecutive days without rain. In the last week of July, the long period of drought was interrupted by two days of rain, readjusting the temperature to the seasonal norm, with ideal conditions for grape ripening. After another set of rain showers at the beginning of the month, Merlot harvest began on September 5 with the young vines and continued until September 20 under perfect conditions. Harvest was completed with the Cabernet Franc on October 1.
The bunches, hand harvested in 15 kg (33 lb) crates, were sorted by hand on a double sorting table before and after destemming and then subjected to soft crushing. Most of the fermentation took place in concrete tanks, while the grapes from some small parcels fermented in barrels at temperatures between 25°C (77°F) and 30°C (86°F). Maceration times ranged from 21 to 28 days. Malolactic fermentation began in 100% new oak barriques, while keeping the various lots separate for the first 12 months of ripening. Subsequently, the wine was blended and reintroduced once again into the barrels for another year, for a total of 24 months. As usual, Masseto 2019 was given another 12 months in bottle before being released on the market.
Masseto 2019, harvested slightly later than usual, has benefited from the sunny but mild weather in early September, giving a dense yet harmonious expression. Estate Director Axel Heinz notes that “the youthful color suggests a rich and intense wine, the nose shows textbook scents of ripe cherries, violet, licorice and dark chocolate. The palate is broad and dense with velvety and refined tannins that coat the palate, while leaving a fresh and vibrant finish.”
About Masseto
Masseto is the name for a unique wine, vineyard, and estate. The potential of the slope where the homonymous Masseto vineyard stands on the Tuscan coast was sensed in the early 1980s when the first vines were planted, contrary to all predictions, advice and local tradition. The intuition paid off. The blue clay soil, the cool coastal breezes, and the excellent refraction of light guaranteed by the Mediterranean Sea contribute to the intriguing mix of power, elegance and complexity that distinguishes the estate’s wine. Masseto has been internationally acclaimed since it was created in 1986.
Masseto, from the 2017 harvest, is accompanied by a second Massetino wine. Both are grown on 11 densely-planted hectares on the hill of Masseto, and are transformed from prized grapes into desirable bottles of wine in the cellar of the estate designed by the Zito Mori studio inaugurated in April 2019. From here, the two wines depart every autumn and travel all over the world through the Place de Bordeaux.
The company team is made up of five passionate professionals: Axel Heinz, Estate Director; Gaia Cinnirella, Enologist; Vianney Gravereaux, Sales & Marketing Director; Susanne Weber and Elena Oprea, respectively Brand Manager and Communication Manager. The Masseto estate is part of the group owned by the Frescobaldi family.
