MASSETO 2016 IGT

Aus Bolgheri in der Toskana stammt der wohl rarste Rotwein Italiens: DER MASSETO. Der reinsortige Merlot aus der nur 7 Hektar umfassenden Lage Masseto wird nur in homöopathischen Mengen zugeteilt. Es gibt ihn eigentlich gar nicht, da er kaum verfügbar ist. Der Vergleich mit dem Petrus ist berechtigt. Die Nähe zur Küste prädestiniert die Lage für die gleichmäßige Reifung der Merlot-Traube. Die Wurzeln finden ihren Weg in die Millionen Jahre alte Schicht aus blauem Lehm, auf welcher heute der Weinberg liegt. Der ehemalige Meeresboden ist gefüllt mit Mineralien und Fossilien dieses früheren Lebens. Dies prägt den Charakter dieses Ausnahmeweines.

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"Masseto has pulled off back-to-back home runs. This is the first time that an Italian wine has earned 100 points in successive vintages. The 2016 Masseto is a thunderstorm of emotions, but it manages to keep them under perfect control. Like the 2015 Masseto before it, this vintage is a seamless wine of the highest pedigree. It represents an encore performance, continuing the string of successes that is bringing Italy to the forefront of the wine world. The first thing you'll notice is the thickness and concentration of the fruit that makes an immediate impact on all the senses, in terms of appearance, aroma and mouthfeel. There is no overstating the sheer power and richness of this iconic vintage of Italy's groundbreaking Merlot. Despite that considerable mass, this Masseto remains delicate and graceful. You gain better perspective as the wine opens in the glass and reveals deeper layers that were not immediately apparent on first nose: dark fruit, spice, sweet tobacco and black cherry. There is great tightness and laser focus to the fruit. I tasted the 2016 and 2015 vintages together for comparison when I scored this wine, and then I tasted this 2016 edition alone about a month later to confirm my impressions. These vintages are identical twins, two perfect wines."