ArtisanWineDepot.com

Masseto 2008 is the expression of a warm vintage, most of it having been harvested in the first half of September. With great concentration, its color is particularly deep and young. The nose is characterized by rich and fully ripe fruit yet without any traces of over ripeness, focused and intense with spicy and mineral notes. On the palate the wine is remarkably dense, concentrated and opulent, with a very pure expression of fruit. The tannins are present and firm giving the wine focus and precision to balance the wine’s opulent richness. It is undoubtedly one of the great expressions of Masseto with a great ageing potential.

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Rank #1 Top Dozen Bottles Tasted in 2011 & 99 Points - James Suckling:
"Opulent and complex, with dark fruits such as plums and blackberries. Milk chocolate. Dried herbs too. Black olives. Stunning nose. Full bodied, with firm and chewy tannins, but a very creamy texture, and lots of milk chocolate, berry and mineral character. It goes on for minutes. Clear and powerful. Savory and salty. One of the best Massetos ever. (jamessuckling.com, 08/11)

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2008 Masseto is stylistically closer to the 2006. An irregular crop set lowered yields while the warm, dry summer concentrated its efforts on the smaller crop. Cooler temperatures towards the middle of September lengthened the cycle and allowed for the full development of aromatics and phenolic ripeness. The 2008 is a gorgeous, dense Masseto endowed with massive fruit and tons of structure. The only missing element is a degree of finesse, but that may develop in bottle. For now, the 2008 is a wine to bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2033." - Antonio Galloni (Nov 2011)

93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"A dark, extracted red, offering plenty of juicy plum, blackberry and violet notes framed by vanilla and toast. Squarely in the modern camp, yet this works. The tannins are slightly gritty now, but should mesh with time. Merlot. Best from 2014 through 2024. 400 cases imported." –BS (Oct 15, 2011)

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