Massetino Toscana IGT 2023 - a limited edition Super Tuscan style red wine from the famous Masseto vineyard, located in the prestigious Bolgheri area of Tuscany. Created as a "little brother" to the legendary Masseto, this wine captivates with a perfectly balanced combination of 'Merlot' and 'Cabernet Franc', exceptional depth, richness of aromas and long aging value. The 2023 harvest was complex, but the long, even ripening and cool September nights allowed to preserve aromatic precision, acidity and good balance of ripeness.
Aroma: deep and complex, dominated by black currants, ripe plums, herbs, subtle graphite minerality, tobacco and dark chocolate
On the palate, 'Merlot' and 'Cabernet Franc' combine into a concentrated but not overloaded whole. The wine is juicy, long-lasting and has a slightly refreshing, slightly sharp finish that adds tension and prevents the style from becoming too soft.
Terroir is an essential part of the style here. The environment of the Masseto hills is shaped by millions of years old Pliocene blue clay, the proximity of the sea and coastal winds. This combination helps to retain acidity, slows down ripening and gives the wines not only maturity, but also silky structure and mineral precision.
The grapes are hand-picked in 15 kg boxes, after gentle crushing they are fermented in separate plots in concrete tanks using local yeasts. Maceration lasts 21-25 days, malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels, 50% of which are new, and after the first 12 months of aging, the wine rests for another 4 months in concrete before bottling. As a result, the 2023 Massetino retains not only the richness of the fruit, but also a very neat, precise texture.
Serve at 16-18°C with beef, game steaks, red meat stews, grilled beef sausages, and mature cheeses.
The Masseto 2023 Massetino is a blend of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc and confirms the growing confidence and individuality of this blend. The 2023 harvest was not easy because of mildew pressure. The Merlot was picked after periods of rain, with Cabernet Franc playing a compensating role, yet the result is very positive, offering bright spiciness and layered mineral tones of graphite smoke and crushed stone. Grown on a mix of blue clay and reddish marine-derived soils rich in fossils and sodium, the vineyards benefit from cool, water-retentive clays that help the vines cope with heat stress. Chalky notes add freshness on the finish, and the overall impression is one of depth, brightness and savory precision. Though often described as a "second wine" after Masseto, Massetino has achieved notable success by proving it has a distinct identity.
Masseto is a true legend of the Bolgheri region, born from an exceptional terroir and a visionary approach to winemaking. This prestigious estate is located on the Tuscan coast, in the hills of Bolgheri, where just 7 hectares of Merlot have been cultivated since 1986 — a vineyard that has become one of the most iconic in the world.
The name Masseto derives from the dense blue clay soils (“masso”) that dominate the site and date back to the Pliocene era. These unique soils, combined with a maritime climate and constant coastal breezes, give the wine its remarkable structure, depth, and longevity. The extraordinary potential of this vineyard was first recognized in the late 1970s by legendary consultant André Tchelistcheff, who foresaw its exceptional suitability for Merlot.
History and Philosophy
The story of Masseto began in 1981, when it was founded by Marchese Lodovico Antinori, at the same time he was developing the renowned Ornellaia estate. Initially conceived as part of the Ornellaia project, Masseto quickly proved to be something unique and soon established its own identity as a standalone icon.
Since 2005, the estate has been owned by the Frescobaldi family, who continue to develop Masseto as one of the world’s most celebrated expressions of Merlot.
In 2019, a new, purpose-built gravity-flow winery was inaugurated, designed exclusively for Masseto. This state-of-the-art facility allows for the utmost precision at every stage of production and preserves the purest expression of the vineyard’s terroir.
Vineyards and Winemaking
The Masseto vineyard lies on a slope composed of varying clay layers, and each parcel is vinified separately to capture its individual character. Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with extremely strict selection.
Winemaking is defined by meticulous attention to detail:
Style and Reputation
Masseto is widely regarded as one of the greatest Merlot wines in the world, often compared to the finest wines of Pomerol. Its hallmark characteristics include:
Today, Masseto stands as an icon not only of Italian wine, but of global fine winemaking, a benchmark for what Merlot can achieve when terroir, vision, and craftsmanship align at the highest level.
