2022 Massetino

Clear cinnamon and baking spices on the nose, a ton of personality, Tuscan character in spades. Spice, liquorice and underbrush, plump red fruits, sweet but balanced by fresh acidities and a ton of lift on the finish. Moreish and easy to share. Eleonora Marconi winemaker, Marchesi Frescobaldi owners. 11ha vineyard, a classic year for Tuscany, if on the extreme end of that with high temperatures and low rainfall. 50% new oak for ageing, 12 months in barrel then 3 months in bottle.

Massetino is considered the second wine of Masseto, but I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that it's far more than that. It represents around one-third of the production of Masseto, and judging by the quality of this 2022, next year's release of the grand vin could be absolutely phenomenal. Massetino has always incorporated a portion Cabernet Franc since its first vintage, 2017 – 10% in 2022. A cool and dry spring led to a slightly late budbreak, followed by 75 days of drought and high temperatures. Summer storms eventually came along to restore balance, and the cool September evenings were perfect for the grapes reach full ripeness. Each parcel was vinified separately and spontaneously in concrete tanks before undergoing malolactic fermentation in barriques, 50% new. After 12 months, the final blend was made and the wine spent a further three months in concrete before bottling. Bright and stony, there's so much energy here. Zingy and sapid, it combines fresh Mediterranean herbs and poised fruit, with more verticality than Masseto 2021 and just as much concentration. Incredible precision and beautiful freshness, especially considering the vintage.