2021 Masseto | DMG

The 2021 Masseto is a stunner. It also shows how much the estate has evolved in recent years. I was reminded of that recently when I drank the 2001, considered by many observers, including this one, to be one of the greatest wines ever made here. The 2021 represents a move towards a more refined style. There’s less of the bombastic intensity and extraction that were once the norm here. I remember young vintages that were impossible to taste young. The 2021, on the other hand, is an absolute delight. Crushed flowers, spice, blood orange and bright, red-toned fruit all grace the palate. Floral aromatics and saline underpinnings are at times reminiscent of the Cabernet Franc found in the 2019 and 2020, but the 2021 is back to the classic 100% Merlot. Readers will find a Masseto built on linear energy more than volume. The 2021 is quite simply the most exquisite, refined young Masseto I have ever tasted. Aging was 24 months in 100% new French oak. 

- Antonio Galloni (02/2024)

Dark purple color. Blackberry, blueberry, flint, gunmetal and currant aromas with undertones of violets and mocha. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are very polished, giving a silky texture that fills your mouth. It’s fresh yet very deep, with tannins that last for minutes. Finely crafted and classy. Pure merlot. Drink after 2029. (05/2024)

Tasted from barrel, the 2021 Masseto pours a youthful magenta hue and brings forward an inviting bouquet with some blue fruit coming through and more chocolate aromas as well with to me it is fresh with blackberry, and purple violet flowers. It boasts outstanding concentration and depth, with a plush, cushiony texture at this stage, incredible finesse and balance, and a wonderful mineral aroma of wet asphalt coming through. A harmonious wine with well-integrated oak, this may be the best vintage of this cuvée that I have tasted to date.

- Audrey Frick (01/2024)

The 2021 Masseto is breathtaking. An absolute masterpiece that presents itself without a single moment that is not perfection. The nose is simply gorgeous, a cascade of rose, violet, lavender, macerated strawberry, semi-sweet molten chocolate, and wild herbs. A cashmere texture on the palate leads to soft-spoken power that impresses with it's effortless ability to hold freshness in harmony with the full 15.5% abv. Loads of dark berries and warmed spices linger on the finish. For a young Masseto, it is drinking remarkably well, with the intensity and precision to hold and improve for decades.

- Vanessa Conlin (12/2024)

Plum and blackberry flavors are wrapped in an embrace of toasty oak, with vanilla, resin and iron accents. Dense tannins coat the gums, while bright acidity keeps this focused and drives the spice-infused aftertaste. Fluid and long, ultimately, this silky red is all about finesse. A superb success in a great vintage. Merlot. Best from 2027 through 2047. 440 cases imported.

- B.S.

The 2021 Masseto is back to being 100% Merlot. Recent past vintages saw a tiny part of Cabernet Franc. That second varietal in the blend represents the proverbial "tax" one must pay in the face of climate change, especially when making wine on the sun-drenched Tuscan Coast. This is a very rich and elaborate expression with the extract, tannic tightness and the hefty 15.5% alcohol content to match. It comes off as quite big-boned or monotone. The wine is redolent of blackberry confit and cooked cherry, with a wide range of sweet oak spices to close. There is dark chocolate with a thin lining of creamy mint filling. Within the context of that fullness and generous fruit weight, Masseto is quite a commitment in terms of price and further cellaring. More bottle aging is an absolute requirement.

- Monica Larner (02/2024)