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Masseto Toscana 1996 750ml

size
750ml
country
Italy
region
Tuscany
appellation
Bolgheri
DC
95
WS
92
WA
91
VM
91
DC
95
Rated 95 by Decanter
Tasted from a double magnum, this 1996 (which was not a particularly good vintage in Bolgheri) shines for its complexity and evolution. Garnet in colour with cedar wood, leather and cigar box notes in depth embellished with blueberry fruit and crystallised violet, this Masseto is a benchmark aged Merlot with its silky-smooth milk chocolate palate covering quite classic angular yet evolved tannins. Now drinking well, enjoy the untreated leather finish and whiffs of game. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Masseto Toscana 1996 750ml

SKU 926197
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$6847.74
/case
$1141.29
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 6 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
DC
95
WS
92
WA
91
VM
91
DC
95
Rated 95 by Decanter
Tasted from a double magnum, this 1996 (which was not a particularly good vintage in Bolgheri) shines for its complexity and evolution. Garnet in colour with cedar wood, leather and cigar box notes in depth embellished with blueberry fruit and crystallised violet, this Masseto is a benchmark aged Merlot with its silky-smooth milk chocolate palate covering quite classic angular yet evolved tannins. Now drinking well, enjoy the untreated leather finish and whiffs of game.
WS
92
Rated 92 by Wine Spectator
Offers wild rosemary, juniper, coffee, plum, fruitcake and spice aromas and flavors. Mature, supple, balanced and elegant, displaying a lifted, mouthwatering finish, with coffee, fruit and tar details. Merlot. Non-blind Masseto vertical (October 2017). Drink now through 2028. 2,915 cases made.
WA
91
Rated 91 by Wine Advocate
In 1996 the flowering was delayed and the summer was on the cool side. Only a spell of heat towards the end of the season allowed the fruit to ripen. As a result, the 1996 Masseto is both fresh, but also rather compact. It possesses gorgeous, well-delineated aromatics and plenty of complexity but not the depth or richness to improve materially from here. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018.
VM
91
Rated 91 by Vinous Media
The 1996 Masseto is austere, wild and savory, none of which are especially typical. Even so, the 1996 is endowed with considerable depth. Graphite, grilled herbs, game, smoke, licorice and tobacco add to its wild feel. The 1996 is not especially refined, but it has a ton of character. It was a mostly cool and rainy year, with just a bit of heat at the end.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
Italy
region
Tuscany
appellation
Bolgheri
Overview
Tasted from a double magnum, this 1996 (which was not a particularly good vintage in Bolgheri) shines for its complexity and evolution. Garnet in colour with cedar wood, leather and cigar box notes in depth embellished with blueberry fruit and crystallised violet, this Masseto is a benchmark aged Merlot with its silky-smooth milk chocolate palate covering quite classic angular yet evolved tannins. Now drinking well, enjoy the untreated leather finish and whiffs of game.
green grapes

Varietal: Merlot

Today, Merlot is generally believed to be one of the most popular and widely planted grape varietals in the world, with expert estimates putting it just behind Cabernet Sauvignon in the top three most planted vines. Ask any winery anywhere between France and Argentina, and they'll tell you it is due to the grapes reliability, fantastic range of flavors and unique properties. Single variety Merlot wines are especially popular with companies wishing to target newcomers to the world of red wine, due to the fact that as Merlot has a low tannin content, and relatively little malic acid, the wines it produces are fleshy, well rounded and firmly in the 'medium body' category. This essentially means that they are extremely drinkable, full of lovely jammy fruit flavors and rich, pleasing aromas. That isn't to say that Merlot is only for beginners, though, as this grape is also one of the key varietals for producing some of the most highly respected, complex and perfectly balanced wines in the world.
barrel

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.
fields

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.
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More Details
Winery Masseto
green grapes

Varietal: Merlot

Today, Merlot is generally believed to be one of the most popular and widely planted grape varietals in the world, with expert estimates putting it just behind Cabernet Sauvignon in the top three most planted vines. Ask any winery anywhere between France and Argentina, and they'll tell you it is due to the grapes reliability, fantastic range of flavors and unique properties. Single variety Merlot wines are especially popular with companies wishing to target newcomers to the world of red wine, due to the fact that as Merlot has a low tannin content, and relatively little malic acid, the wines it produces are fleshy, well rounded and firmly in the 'medium body' category. This essentially means that they are extremely drinkable, full of lovely jammy fruit flavors and rich, pleasing aromas. That isn't to say that Merlot is only for beginners, though, as this grape is also one of the key varietals for producing some of the most highly respected, complex and perfectly balanced wines in the world.
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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.
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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.