MASSETINO
2019 Masseto
A sculpted but intense Masseto, with a powerful creep through the palate of liqourice, chocolate, espresso, cocoa, turmeric and smoked vanilla bean. Stunningly rich in texture and concentration, but captures the freshness of eucalypytus, raspberry leaf and crushed mint. 100% new oak, confident, with a velvety punch of flavour from beginning to end. An interesting vintage in tems of the wider conversation around grapes and climate also, as a touch of Cabernet Franc is included for the first time for added grip, from a plot within the vineyard that was planted back in 2002. They expect this percentage to rise over the coming years, begging the question of whether bottles of the old style Masseto will become a time capsule of when Merlot was possible in Bolgerhi? All the more reason to savour it now. 12 months in bottle following the barrel ageing. Director Axel Heinz, winemaker Eleonora Marconi. 100% new oak. Drinking range: 2023 - 2040 Rating: 99 Jane Anson, Decanter (Aug 2022)
In Bond
75cl bottles (wood case of 3)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2019 Masseto is fabulous. Silky, gracious and super-refined, the 2019 is a total knock-out. So often Masseto is a powerhouse at this stage, but the 2019 is so elegant, so precise. This is the first year that includes Cabernet Franc, 10% in this case. I can’t say I am at all surprised given how much Franc has added to Massetino. Red berry fruit, mocha, cinnamon and blood orange lend freshness throughout. The 2019 has just been bottle, so it's early. But there certainly appears to be a lot to look forward to. (Originally Published in March 2022) Drinking range: 2029 - 2049 Rating: 98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jul 2022)
Plum aromatics are immediately plump and enticing. This is polished and intense, liquorice root dipped in damsons and rich chocolate, you feel the generosity and the power of the site. This vintage was a little cooler overall than the 2018, and the longer ripening perhaps helped give this concentrated character. This is significantly more nuanced than the 2018 Massetino, and is one to look out for. Natural yeast fermentation, 50% new oak. Drinking range: 2023 - 2032 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (Dec 2021)
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 through 2033. Drinking range: 2023 - 2033 Rating: 93 Bruce Sanderson, The Wine Spectator (Oct 2021)
Second year on the Place for the second wine of Masseto, from young vines. This is generous and easy to love, powerful brambled fruits and juicy red cherry, rosemary and Tuscan underbrush spice. All plots are vinified separately, wild yeast fermention, malo in barrel, with 50% new oak. Tiny quantities of this wine are made. Drinking range: 2021 - 2032 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Sept 2021)
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. Rating: 95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Aug 2021)
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. Drinking range: 2024 - 2042 Rating: 94-96 Monica Larner, The Wine Advocate (www.robertparker.com) (May 2021)
Masseto
Originally Masseto was a part of the larger vineyard of Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, but in 1986 it was decided to vinify the plots of Merlot on this seven hectare hillside site separately as it was thought they showed promise. By this chance was born one of the modern icons of the world of wine. The hillside has pebbly clay and sand at the top, which give elegance. In the mid-slope (a 10% gradient) the soil is grey clay, which gives the wine it's structural core, while the bottom part of the vineyard with less clay gives a generous warmth and richness. The wine is 100% Merlot, and is aged in barrel for two years, before a further year in bottle prior to release. Although Axel Heinz remains in charge of winemaking in both properties, Masseto is now considered separate from Ornellaia, and will have its own winery from 2018. Masseto is owned by the Frescobaldi family.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond' (excluding duty paid and VAT).
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price sits within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
You can register your interest via the online wishlist form, by emailing privateclients@leaandsandeman.co.uk, or by calling 020 7221 1982. All wishlist requests are subject to availability and final confirmation. Inevitably, some wines will have to be allocated but please do not let that deter you from asking. We will do our best to satisfy all requests.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date.
Invoices are raised at in bond prices. Duty and VAT invoices will be raised on request when the wines land in the UK.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We reserve the right to levy a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant Storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other in bond deliveries are free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1,000. Orders below this total will be charged at £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchase from this offer, not a per-case charge. Please inform us of in bond delivery addresses and account details at the time of ordering.
- If the wines are required duty paid we will issue invoices at prevailing rate of duty and VAT when the wines arrive in the UK.
- The wines will become available by the end of the year and should be shipped very early next year.