Wine Advisor
Masseto, Masseto 2003
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Description
To open a bottle, is to unleash a liquid kaleidoscope. A rare combination of sumptuous opulence and polished elegance. As a tribute to its rugged force, its softness, and the debt it owes to the soil from which it rises, Masseto was named after the rock-hard clusters of blue clay called ‘massi’ that form on the vineyard’s surface.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto is tremendous tonight. I admit, 2003 is one of my least favorite vintages, and yet the wine is so delicious today. Exotic and opulent to the core, the 2003 shows all of the natural richness of this brutally hot, dry year in its dark, heady, super-ripe flavors. There is not a ton of nuance, but readers could certainly do worse. This is an especially fine showing for the 2003, that much is pretty clear. Harvest took place between August 25 and September 18, a very early start. Ultimately, the winemaking team decided to only use the heart of the Masseto vineyard, 'Masseto Centrale,' in the blend, which lowered production significantly in favor of quality, a strategy that paid off brilliantly.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto, tasted in the second flight, was one of the revelations of the night. It was absolutely sublime, proving that talented winemakers can make great wines even in the most challenging of vintages with impeccable work in the vineyard and uncompromising selection in the cellar. Readers who took the plunge on the 2003 will be rewarded with an absolutely sublime, perfumed, polished wine of the highest level.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto is another product of a difficult year, but in this case it is a vintage characterized by brutal, unrelenting heat. The estate made the decision to use only the central, oldest part of the vineyard, but even that was not enough to fully counter the effects of the sweltering heat. The 2003 is an opulent, port-like Masseto loaded with sweet, dense fruit. It retains good freshness and delineation, but the style is very ripe and heavy.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto opens with a huge, expressive super-ripe nose. Ample and expansive on the palate, it displays much opulence in its generous fruit, with awesome concentration, outstanding length and a lovely vein of minerality which provides a level of freshness that is surprising for the vintage. A lingering note of sweetness punctuates the long finish. It should drink well for at least another decade, although it is absolutely irresistible today. It is a stunning wine. Owing to the challenging nature of the vintage, in 2003 Masseto was made only from the central part of the vineyard which is planted with the oldest vines.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
(100% merlot) Inky purple-ruby. Very ripe, highly concentrated aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant jam and espresso, with good mineral lift. Creamy yet firm on the palate, with plenty of seductively rich, liqueur-like black fruit flavor. Finishes with a whiplash of mocha and roasted herb flavors, but currently lacks a bit of energy on the moderately long, smooth finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto is another product of a difficult year, but in this case it is a vintage characterized by brutal, unrelenting heat. The estate made the decision to use only the central, oldest part of the vineyard, but even that was not enough to fully counter the effects of the sweltering heat. The 2003 is an opulent, port-like Masseto loaded with sweet, dense fruit. It retains good freshness and delineation, but the style is very ripe and heavy. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto opens with a huge, expressive super-ripe nose. Ample and expansive on the palate, it displays much opulence in its generous fruit, with awesome concentration, outstanding length and a lovely vein of minerality which provides a level of freshness that is surprising for the vintage. A lingering note of sweetness punctuates the long finish. It should drink well for at least another decade, although it is absolutely irresistible today. It is a stunning wine. Owing to the challenging nature of the vintage, in 2003 Masseto was made only from the central part of the vineyard which is planted with the oldest vines. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2017. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Jeurg Richter’s pre-Climens lunch. The Masseto ’03 oozes class with a ravishing, opulent bouquet with raspberry, kirsch, Kalamata olives and a touch of undergrowth. It has enticing definition and a sense of natural calm. The palate is beautifully balanced with svelte tannins, a nonchalant sense of self-being with gentle grip, filigree texture, more black than the red fruits evident on the nose, cedar and cigar box towards the understated finish. Stunning. Drink now-2020+ Tasted November 2009.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto opens with a huge, expressive super-ripe nose. Ample and expansive on the palate, it displays much opulence in its generous fruit, with awesome concentration, outstanding length and a lovely vein of minerality which provides a level of freshness that is surprising for the vintage. A lingering note of sweetness punctuates the long finish. It should drink well for at least another decade, although it is absolutely irresistible today. It is a stunning wine. Owing to the challenging nature of the vintage, in 2003 Masseto was made only from the central part of the vineyard which is planted with the oldest vines. 93/Anticipated maturity: 2007-2017. The 100% Merlot Masseto, on the other hand, has proven to be a wine of greater singularity. Its unique, unmistakable personality always comes through, especially in a set of widely diverse vintages, as this vertical attests. The Masseto vineyard measures roughly 7 hectares. Set on a gently sloping hill, the vineyard is divided into three sections which contain different clay-based soil types. The structure of Masseto comes from the central portion of the vineyard (Masseto Centrale), where the terrain is most compact. Towards the upper part of the hillside (Masseto Alto) the soils contain a higher percentage of rocks and thus yield wines that are more aromatic. The lower stretch of the vineyard, known as “Masseto Junior,” is also the most recent to be planted. According to Raspini the fruit from these vines bridges the qualities of the wines from the central and upper portions of the vineyard and thus serves to give Masseto its finesse and balance. There is also a small amount of fruit that comes from the “Vigna Vecchia” plot which is the source of the Merlot that is used for Ornellaia. Each parcel is harvested and vinified separately. Fermentation and maceration typically last around 25 days, give or take, depending on the quality of the fruit, after which the wines are moved into 100% new French oak barrels for the malolactic fermentations. The wines spend 12 months in oak prior to being assembled, after which the final blend spends an additional 12 months in oak prior to being bottled. Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is without question one of Italy’s blue-chip properties. The gorgeous, sprawling estate is located in Bolgheri in Tuscany’s Maremma. On a recent visit I had the opportunity to taste a number of the estate’s wines with General Manager/Agronomist Leonardo Raspini and Oenologist Axel Heinz, including verticals of the estate’s top bottlings Ornellaia and Masseto.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2003 Masseto opens with a huge, expressive super-ripe nose. Ample and expansive on the palate, it displays much opulence in its generous fruit, with awesome concentration, outstanding length and a lovely vein of minerality which provides a level of freshness that is surprising for the vintage. A lingering note of sweetness punctuates the long finish. It should drink well for at least another decade, although it is absolutely irresistible today. It is a stunning wine. Owing to the challenging nature of the vintage, in 2003 Masseto was made only from the central part of the vineyard which is planted with the oldest vines.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Big and juicy like many from the hot 2003 vintage. It shows some alcoholic heat on the nose but it's relatively fresh and clean on the palate. Almost dry Port-like. Holding on but a little disjointed. Drink now.
About the Producer
For 700 years the Frescobaldi family has combined tradition, experience and innovation with creativity and the pursuit of excellence. The family has always looked to develop and celebrate the diversity of Tuscany’s terroir, being proud owners of some of the greatest vineyards in this region. The Masseto hill is a special place, both a revelation and a mystery. This is where terroir victoriously transcends the grape varieties and where the blue clays of the Pliocene Era tell their ancient story. Millions of years ago a deep marine substrate was deposited which transformed gradually into blue clay that came to the surface on this hill after thousands of years of erosion. The shells and fossils found imbedded in the clays are testimony to this. With a heart as hard as stone and yet with an intriguing fragility, the clay knows just how to adjust to its environment & climate. This contrast is reflected in the intense power and silky elegance to be found in Masseto.
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