- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Vinous
2007 Masseto Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy
2007 Masseto began with a very mild winter, with less rainfall than usual. As a result, bud break occurred about 10 days early. Spring was mild too, with rains coming just when they were required, which allowed excellent vegetative growth and led the vines to flower early. June rains, which occurred throughout Tuscany, accompanied the development of the grapes. Summer finally started with a July, which was hot and dry, followed by an August which was cooler, with classic mid-month thunderstorms that slowed the ripening of the grapes, bringing the projected harvest date in line with the average. A perfect September with brilliant sun, mild temperatures, and little rain permitted a perfectly slow, steady ripening of the grapes, concentrating polyphenols and aromatic compounds, without leading to any over-ripeness. The grapes were picked between 3rd and 15th September on four different occasions.
TASTING NOTES: The hallmark of Masseto is its power and impressive tannic structure. The 2007 vintage displays, in addition, an overwhelming elegance and complex wealth of aromatics, boasting impressions of perfectly ripe red and dark berry fruit, along with balsamic notes of wild herbs, smooth spices, and cocoa. The mouthfeel is dense, rich, intense, with glossy, silk-smooth tannins. A very long, leisurely finish reveals a good vein of acidity and concludes clean and fresh.