Masseto vertical: 10 vintages back to 1988

Masseto is one of the most expensive Italian wines and a true myth for collectors. Put simply it is the most important Merlot in Bolgheri, but this is not the whole picture. To understand Masseto’s pursuit of excellence it is necessary to follow its dynamic evolution.

Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for a Masseto vertical of 10 vintages

The first vintage was bottled in 1986 and was called ‘Merlot dell’Ornellaia’; the first commercial vintage followed in 1987 and the latest vintage, Masseto 2017, was released in September 2020.

Over the last 30 years this exceptional wine has never stopped evolving.

Masseto’s evolution

Since 2001, ageing in new French oak has been extended from 18 to 24 months following vintages with more concentration, and since 2004 careful attention has been paid to temperature control at the start of the fermentation process, as a result of the increasingly warm growing season.

In 2013, integral vinification (using sealed barriques) was introduced ‘to separately ferment micro-plots,’ according to the estate’s managing director, Axel Heinz.

In 2018, spontaneous fermentation in concrete was introduced, which takes place in the new winery officially opened in April 2019.

Today, Masseto’s vineyard sites have grown to 11.5 hectares, but the number of bottles produced annually remains at 30,000 – 34,000. This exclusive production is supported by Massetino, the second wine of the estate first released in 2017.

Masseto has been able to thrive in Bolgheri despite showing a broad (if not the broadest) range of alcohol, increasing from 13% in the first vintages to 15% in more recent vintages. It’s now been 30 vintages without losing the extraordinary finesse of this wine and its perfect balance in concentration.

Read our Masseto producer profile

Masseto – a timeline

1984 Major part of Masseto vineyard planted on advice of André Tchelistcheff

1987 First vintage of Masseto

1989 Tschelistcheff retires from his role as estate consultant

1991 Michel Rolland hired as estate consultant

1995 Lower sector of Masseto vineyard planted

2001 The wine wins a 100-point score from The Wine Spectator

2005 Axel Heinz joins as winemaker

2006 Masseto begins to be sold through the Place de Bordeaux

2012 Vineyard converted entirely to organic farming

2016 Work begins on new dedicated winery

2019 The new winery opens

Masseto at a glance

Vineyard 7ha

Density 4,000 vines/ha

Elevation between 100m and 110m

First vintage 1987

Average production 30,000 bottles

Masseto vertical: 10 vintages tasted and rated

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