Masseto Massetino 2019

Tasted before bottling, the 2019 Massetino is shaping up beautifully. This is the third vintage made of the Merlot-based wine enhanced with a small part of Cabernet Franc. The Cabernet Franc is what distinguishes this euphemistically diminutive expression of Masseto, and it is its distinctive vinous signature. The 2019 vintage is soft and pliant but also incredibly rich and layered. It offers generous black fruit with ripe cherry and blackberry. Spice, tobacco and campfire ash fill in the rear and build the aromatic profile of this wine that is already stacked tall and proud. We still need to see how the 2019 plays out in the bottle, and I am especially interested to gauge how the thick and rich fruit concentration works against the less pronounced acidity of the vintage.

Dense fruit and woody, medicinal notes brood on the nose of this iconic Tuscan expression of Merlot. Aromas range from black cherry, plum, fig and raisin to eucalyptus, fennel, wild mint and damp soil. The palate feels austere, with unrelenting tannins and acid that nearly vibrates. It has a pure linearity that will only reveal itself with quite a bit more time.

This is the third vintage of Massetino, made with fruit from recently replanted vines, not considered ready for the flagship Masseto wine. Merlot lovers are the winners from that decision, with a floral-scented wine that is rich and concentrated yet superbly balanced. Aromas of violets and fresh thyme accent its ripe plum flavors, gaining notes of dark chocolate along with a hint of tobacco that reflects a touch of cabernet franc (six percent of the blend). Delicious now, its length and verve bode well for even more pleasure in the years to come.

Very attractive aromas of currants, spices and sweet tobacco with some graphite and slate. Full-bodied with a rich and rather dense mouth feel, plenty of fruit and a spicy, dark-chocolate aftertaste. A solid and sturdy second wine from Masseto. Try in 2023.

Here's a plush, opulent, in-your-face kind of red, without being over the top. Toasty blackberry, black cherry and plum aromas and flavors ply the center, graced by leather, earth and tobacco accents. Dense, yet finishes long and light on its feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023.