2008 Masseto
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Tasting notes
Another Mediterranean vintage with a hot summer, but the harvest was later than in the 2011, and there is more balance and opulence. The aromatics are standout, with curls of woodsmoke offsetting the powerful hug of tannins and fruit. Still young, but the evolution is becoming evident, as the structure begins to soften up. You feel the opulence and the richness of the vintage and the charater of Merlot on this site. Campfire, balsamic, liquroice, cocoa beans, turmeric, and a vintage where it is so enjoyable to explore the different spices that are drawn out of Merlot in Bolgheri compared to Pomerol. 100% new oak.
Critic scores
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2008 Masseto has never been an easy wine. When it was first released, it was so hard and unyielding. Time has helped the 2008 soften a bit. Even so, it remains a wine of contrasts, of a very obvious push and pull that seems to mirror a growing season marked by alternating periods of warm weather and far cooler conditions. Graphite, smoke, tar and licorice, along with broad tannins, give the 2008 a real feeling of masculine power, qualities that are accentuated in the magnum format.
The 2008 Masseto is a powerhouse, and unquestionably one of the greatest expression of pure Merlot out there. Incredibly deep, rich notes of black fruits, chocolate, earth, and licorice all emerge from this majestic yet classic, regal, masculine wine. It’s full-bodied and beautifully balanced on the palate and has fabulous purity of fruit, polished tannins, and a huge finish. It’s still a baby but wow, what a wine.
About the producer
Established in the 1980s by Lodovico Antinori on the advice of André Tchelistcheff, Masseto was one of Tuscany’s first pure Merlot wines. Sibling to Ornellaia, the Super Tuscan is often considered the Pétrus of Italy – offering powerful, perfumed wines that are highly sought-after by collectors.