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More wines available from Masseto
![Masseto Toscana 1996 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/10/10c695415edbd6e5a551abd206f92e4e.jpg)
Pre-Arrival
Masseto Toscana 1996
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$1141.29
Tasted from a double magnum, this 1996 (which was not a particularly good vintage in Bolgheri) shines for its...
![Masseto Toscana 2001 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/10/10c695415edbd6e5a551abd206f92e4e.jpg)
Pre-Arrival
Masseto Toscana 2001
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$1665.40
Wonderful aromas of blackberries, raspberries and fresh tobacco, with a hint of exotic fruit. Full-bodied, with loads...
![Masseto Toscana 2002 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/96/96657d97b95935cb8b6bbc31ce848aa1.jpg)
Pre-Arrival
Masseto Toscana 2002
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$1152.77
The 2002 Masseto is such a gorgeous wine. Red cherry, sweet red plum, spice and floral overtones all convey...
![Masseto Toscana 2003 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/96/96657d97b95935cb8b6bbc31ce848aa1.jpg)
Pre-Arrival
Masseto Toscana 2003
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$1140.79
The 2003 Masseto is tremendous tonight. I admit, 2003 is one of my least favorite vintages, and yet the wine is so...
![Masseto Toscana 2004 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/96/96657d97b95935cb8b6bbc31ce848aa1.jpg)
Pre-Arrival
Masseto Toscana 2004
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle:
$1564.60
The 2004 Masseto, one of my personal favorites, is positively stellar. I have always adored the 2004 for its silky...
More Details
Winery
Masseto
Vintage: 2011
The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines.
In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
Varietal: Merlot
With its versatility and depth of fantastic fruity flavor, Merlot is one of the key grape varietals which has truly conquered the world of wines. Grown all over Europe, the Americas and elsewhere, Merlot grapes are distinguishable by their beautiful blue color and loose hanging bunches. They are a favorite with wineries due to their light tannin content and low levels of malic acid, meaning that Merlot wines are extremely drinkable and carry a depth of flavors which is at once fleshy and full, without being overpowering or challenging for the drinker. Merlots are often used for blending, as their roundedness and mellow nature is a perfect way to balance out more astringent varietals, leading to fuller, more complex and silky quality wines. Indeed, many of the finest wineries in the world in esteemed locations across countries such as France and Italy are famed for their habit of using ripened Merlot grapes to their full potential.
Region: Tuscany
Tuscany has been producing fine wines for almost three thousand years, and as such is widely recognized as being one of the key Old World wine regions which have shaped the way we understand and enjoy quality wines throughout history. Interestingly, the region is typified by a unique soil type which is not particularly good for growing grapevines, but in Tuscany, the emphasis has always been on quality over quantity, and low yields with high levels of flavor and intensity are preferred, and have become a feature of the region's wine industry. The main grape varietals grown in Tuscany are Sangiovese for the distinctive, flavorful and complex red wines, and Vernaccia for the exquisite dry white wines, although the last couple of decades have seen more varietals grown and an increasing trend towards 'Bordeaux style' wines.
Country: Italy
There are few countries in the world with a viticultural history as long or as illustrious as that claimed by Italy. Grapes were first being grown and cultivated on Italian soil several thousand years ago by the Greeks and the Pheonicians, who named Italy 'Oenotria' – the land of wines – so impressed were they with the climate and the suitability of the soil for wine production. Of course, it was the rise of the Roman Empire which had the most lasting influence on wine production in Italy, and their influence can still be felt today, as much of the riches of the empire came about through their enthusiasm for producing wines and exporting it to neighbouring countries. Since those times, a vast amount of Italian land has remained primarily for vine cultivation, and thousands of wineries can be found throughout the entire length and breadth of this beautiful country, drenched in Mediterranean sunshine and benefiting from the excellent fertile soils found there. Italy remains very much a 'land of wines', and one could not imagine this country, its landscape and culture, without it.