Wine Advisor
Masseto, Masseto 2010
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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: Monica Larner
The 2010 Masseto is truly monumental, leaving you breathless and wordless all at once. Once you sip the wine, it takes a few minutes before you grasp the enormity of its beauty and potential. You almost have to wonder how enologist Axel Heinz could conceive of a wine this beautiful - and how did he execute it? I could wax poetic for hours: Dark cherry, chocolate, baking spice and tobacco smoke lift off the bouquet in thin veils and magical puffs. The quality of the aromas is exceptional, but again, the seamless integration is what makes Masseto a protagonist of Italian wine. No matter how much time goes by, that beauty will remain firmly etched in your memory bank. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030. This year Ornellaia celebrates the 25th anniversary of its flagship wine, the eponymous Ornellaia (1988-2013). General Director Leonardo Raspini and his team decide to celebrate with a commemorative edition of the wine packaged in an etched bottle with gold lettering. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners; www.foliowine.com
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2010 Masseto is powerful, heady and explosive, with tons of density and pedigree to burn. On the one hand, I am happy to check in on it tonight, but on the other hand, the 2010 is very clearly a wine for the future. I wouldn’t dream of opening a bottle any time soon. The 2010 has been showier, but tonight it is decidedly reticent, and that's a shame, as it can be transcendental. It was one of the latest harvests at the property. Picking started on September 18 and wrapped up October 4.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
A wine of extraordinary purity, silkiness and finesse, the 2010 Masseto has it all. The flavors are bright, precise and exceptionally pure, but it is the wine’s total balance that is utterly compelling. What more can I ask from a wine? Absolutely nothing. There is often something magical about cooler, later-ripening vintages at the estate. The interplay of more moderate conditions with the inherent power of these sites can yield wines of profound beauty and brilliance. The 2010 is all that, and more.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
A wine of extraordinary purity, silkiness and finesse, the 2010 Masseto has it all. The flavors are bright, precise and exceptionally pure, but it is the wine’s total balance that is utterly compelling. What more can I ask from a wine? Absolutely nothing. There is often something magical about cooler, later-ripening vintages at the estate. The interplay of more moderate conditions with the inherent power of these sites can yield wines of profound beauty and brilliance. The 2010 is all that, and more.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2010 Masseto is powerful, heady and explosive, with tons of density and pedigree to burn. On the one hand, I am happy to check in on it tonight, but on the other hand, the 2010 is very clearly a wine for the future. I wouldn’t dream of opening a bottle any time soon. The 2010 has been showier, but tonight it is decidedly reticent, and that's a shame, as it can be transcendental. It was one of the latest harvests at the property. Picking started on September 18 and wrapped up October 4.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
The 2010 vintage was tricky with the weather, but Masseto excelled. This is very exceptional on the nose. Opulent and so Merlot with black olive, chocolate mousse, minerals, and lavender. Full body, with chewy tannins and a long long finish. This is so pure. Harvest was made mostly the first week of October. So it was very late. Can't wait to taste it in bottle.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A wine with amazing depth and grace with super integrated tannins and currant, berry character. Full body, with great fruit and a long, long,long finish. Truly great. Great depth of fruit with layers of tannins and wonderful freshness. A classic quality in this pure Merlot wonder. Try in 2017.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A wine with amazing depth and grace with super integrated tannins and currant, berry character. Full body, with great fruit and a long, long,long finish. Truly great. Great depth of fruit with layers of tannins and wonderful freshness. A classic quality in this pure Merlot wonder. Try in 2017.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A wine with amazing depth and grace. Super-integrated tannins and a currant, berry character. Full body, great fruit and a long, long finish. A classic quality in this pure merlot wonder. Delightfully fresh too. Try in 2017.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A wine with amazing depth and grace. Super-integrated tannins and a currant, berry character. Full body, great fruit and a long, long finish. There is a classic quality to this pure-merlot wonder. Delightfully fresh, too. Try in 2017.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
I have always been impressed with the depth and grace to this wine since I tasted it from barrel. It's full-bodied with super integrated tannins and so much intense currant, berry character. A classic quality in this pure merlot wonder; feels like Pomerol from a top year like 2009. Try in 2017.
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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