CLIMATE AND VINTAGE
After a mild and rainy winter, March saw a temporary drop in temperatures with a few
nights below 0°C right at the beginning of budding in the last week of the month. The shoots had just opened
However, they were still protected by the cottony tissue of the bud, which prevented damage from frost. The rest of
the spring was generally warm with normal rainfall, ensuring regular
vegetative development until flowering, which occurred between 20 and 25 May. In June, a period of very intense
rainfall towards the middle of the month was followed by a very long period of drought with a substantial
absence of rain and scorching temperatures until the end of August. Veraison took place homogeneously and
quickly between 20 and 25 July, starting the ripening of the grapes under a burning sun. A beautiful August,
the rains arrived that led to a significant drop in temperatures, with nighttime lows
even down to 13°C, ideal conditions to complete the ripening of the Merlot. They were harvested early
and quickly to preserve their freshness as much as possible and just in time to avoid a sudden
week-long heat wave, where the thermometer reached up to 37 degrees. The Merlot harvest was
completed on September 14, followed almost immediately by the Cabernet Franc harvest, to conclude the
harvest on September 16.
VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The grapes were hand-picked in 15 kg crates. After destemming and light pressing, the
grapes were transferred into cement tanks by gravity, without any pumping. Each individual parcel of the vineyard was
vinified separately. Fermentation occurred spontaneously with indigenous yeasts at a temperature of
around 25-28°C, with two or three pumpings over per day and délestages where necessary. Total time in the tanks ranged from
21 to 28 days. Malolactic fermentation took place in barriques, 100% new oak, keeping the
various batches separate for the first 12 months of aging. Subsequently, the wines were assembled and put back
in barriques once again for another year, for a total of 24 months. After being bottled, Masseto 2020
was left to age for another 12 months in the bottle before being released to the market.
TASTING NOTE
Masseto 2020 is a wine that has embraced all the salient features of the vintage. In fact, it brings to the sight and nose an excellent
concentration both in terms of color and aromas. The latter remain persistent and vivid in the glass
without sagging over time. The power of this wine returns to the taste, expressing itself with beautiful length
and balsamic. The integrity of the tannin reveals the typical aging potential of Masseto.