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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

With its dark blue colored fruits and high juice content, Merlot varietal grapes have long been a favorite of wine producers around the globe, with it being found in vineyards across Europe, the Americas and elsewhere in the New World. One of the distinguishing features of Merlot grapes is the fact that they have a relatively low tannin content and an exceptionally soft and fleshy character, meaning they are capable of producing incredibly rounded and mellow wines. This mellowness is balanced with plenty of flavor, however, and has made Merlot grapes the varietal of choice for softening other, more astringent and tannin-heavy wines, often resulting in truly exceptional produce. Merlot is regarded as one of the key 'Bordeaux' varietals for precisely this reason; when combined with the drier Cabernet Sauvignon, it is capable of blending beautifully to produce some of the finest wines available in the world.
barrel

Region: Tuscany

The beautiful region of Tuscany has been associated with wine production for almost three thousand years, and as such is one of the oldest and most highly respected wine producing regions in the world. The hot, sunny climate supports quite a wide range of grapes, but the grape varietals most widely grown across this large region are Sangiovese and Vernaccia, both of which are used in the production of Tuscany's most distinctive red and white wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and other imported grape varietals have also flourished there for over two hundred years, but it wasn't until the 1970's and the rise of the 'Super Tuscans' that they were widely used, when the fine wineries of the region began experimenting with Bordeaux style red wines to great effect.
fields

Country: Italy

It isn't difficult to understand why Italy is famed not just for the quality of its wines, but also for the vast variety and range of characteristics found in the wines there. The terrain of the country varies wildly, from the lush rolling green hills and valley of Tuscany, to the sun drenched rocky coasts of Sicily, the mountainous and alpine regions of the north, and the marshy lowlands of the east. Italy really does have a little bit of everything. Combine this huge range of landscapes with an almost perfect climate for grape cultivation, and you have a country seemingly designed for viticultural excellence. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear to see that wine has become an inseparable part of Italian culture as a result of its abundance and brilliance. Each village, city and region has a local wine perfectly matched with the cuisine of the area, and not an evening passes without the vast majority of Italian families raising a glass of locally sourced wine with pride and pleasure.
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More Details
Winery Masseto
green grapes

Varietal: Merlot

With its dark blue colored fruits and high juice content, Merlot varietal grapes have long been a favorite of wine producers around the globe, with it being found in vineyards across Europe, the Americas and elsewhere in the New World. One of the distinguishing features of Merlot grapes is the fact that they have a relatively low tannin content and an exceptionally soft and fleshy character, meaning they are capable of producing incredibly rounded and mellow wines. This mellowness is balanced with plenty of flavor, however, and has made Merlot grapes the varietal of choice for softening other, more astringent and tannin-heavy wines, often resulting in truly exceptional produce. Merlot is regarded as one of the key 'Bordeaux' varietals for precisely this reason; when combined with the drier Cabernet Sauvignon, it is capable of blending beautifully to produce some of the finest wines available in the world.
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Region: Tuscany

The beautiful region of Tuscany has been associated with wine production for almost three thousand years, and as such is one of the oldest and most highly respected wine producing regions in the world. The hot, sunny climate supports quite a wide range of grapes, but the grape varietals most widely grown across this large region are Sangiovese and Vernaccia, both of which are used in the production of Tuscany's most distinctive red and white wines. Cabernet Sauvignon and other imported grape varietals have also flourished there for over two hundred years, but it wasn't until the 1970's and the rise of the 'Super Tuscans' that they were widely used, when the fine wineries of the region began experimenting with Bordeaux style red wines to great effect.
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Country: Italy

It isn't difficult to understand why Italy is famed not just for the quality of its wines, but also for the vast variety and range of characteristics found in the wines there. The terrain of the country varies wildly, from the lush rolling green hills and valley of Tuscany, to the sun drenched rocky coasts of Sicily, the mountainous and alpine regions of the north, and the marshy lowlands of the east. Italy really does have a little bit of everything. Combine this huge range of landscapes with an almost perfect climate for grape cultivation, and you have a country seemingly designed for viticultural excellence. The results speak for themselves, and it is clear to see that wine has become an inseparable part of Italian culture as a result of its abundance and brilliance. Each village, city and region has a local wine perfectly matched with the cuisine of the area, and not an evening passes without the vast majority of Italian families raising a glass of locally sourced wine with pride and pleasure.