MASSETO
To open a bottle, is to unleash a liquid kaleidoscope. A rare combination of sumptuous opulence and polished elegance.
As a tribute to its rugged force, its softness, and the debt it owes to the soil from which it rises, Masseto was named
after the rock-hard clusters of blue clay called ‘massi’ that form on the vineyard’s surface.

1998
The end of winter and beginning of spring were mild, favouring an early budding of the vines. Flowering took
place at the end of May followed by a uniform setting of the berry. The summer months were very hot and
dry reaching, at times, temperatures well above average. The vintage saw very little rainfall (only 450 mm in
the whole year). Veraison took place in mid-July in a very uniform way. At the end of July, the grapes were thinned to ensure that those remaining on the vines matured under the best conditions. The harvest was carried
out under fine conditions during the period 3rd and 9th September. The harvest was made in different lots.

TASTING NOTES: Not easy to exceed an impressive year such as 1997, yet 1998 too can certainly lay
claim, in Bolgheri, to the title of vintage of the decade. Another warm summer yielded a powerful, concentrated Masseto, one of amazing character. Density, breadth, and depth of fruit are all well-supported by a
superbly-supple mass of tannins, giving the wine an overwhelming impression of solidity and youthfulness.
Still under-developed but already showing significant impact, this is a Masseto destined for long cellaring

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The bunches, hand harvested in 15kg crates, were selected by hand on a double sorting table before and after destemming
and then subjected to soft crushing. Fermentation took place in concrete tanks, small portions of vineyards in barrel at
temperatures between 25 and 30°C. Maceration times ranged from 21 to 28 days. Malolacticfermentation began in 100% new oak
barrique barrels, while keeping the various lots separate for the first 12
months of ripening.
Subsequently, the wine was blended and reintroduced once again into the barrels for another year, for a total of 24 months.
As usual, Masseto is given another 12 months in bottle before being released on the market.