The 2022 Masseto Massetino IGT Toscana is the second wine of the legendary Masseto estate in Bolgheri, offering a more approachable expression of the property’s exceptional terroir while retaining the estate’s hallmark precision and refinement. Massetino is built around Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc, and is designed to express freshness and elegance alongside the richness of the coastal Tuscan climate.
The 2022 vintage was warm and dry, producing concentrated fruit but also requiring careful vineyard management to preserve freshness. The resulting Massetino has an attractive combination of ripe dark fruit, vibrant acidity and polished tannins, making it both enjoyable relatively young and capable of medium-term cellaring.
The bouquet is rich and expressive, showing blackberry, black cherry, blueberry and ripe plum, with layers of violet, liquorice, cocoa and Mediterranean herbs. As it opens, subtle notes of graphite, cedar, dark chocolate and sweet spice emerge. There is a refined floral character from the Cabernet Franc that lifts the darker Merlot fruit and prevents the wine from becoming overly heavy.
On the palate, it is full-bodied, plush and beautifully polished, with generous flavours of blackberry, blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum. The texture is smooth and velvety, supported by fine-grained tannins and lively acidity. The Cabernet Franc adds a subtle savoury, graphite and herbal dimension, while carefully integrated French oak contributes cocoa, vanilla and baking-spice nuances.
The mid-palate is rich and concentrated but remains energetic, leading into a long, silky and mineral-driven finish. Dark berries, liquorice, graphite and chocolate linger persistently, with a touch of Mediterranean freshness appearing at the very end.
