Antinori's flagship Bolgheri Superiore from Tenuta Guado al Tasso: a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in new French oak. Dense blackcurrant, tobacco, liquorice; a 10-year cellar red drinkers return to.
Massetino is the second wine of Masseto, the cult Merlot estate on the blue clay hill above Bolgheri. A Merlot-led blend with a touch of Cabernet Franc, aged in French oak. Polished black fruit, cedar and sweet spice, open and earlier-drinking.
Best price
£243.99
2022 · 75cl · checked 29 Oct · Delivery £6 for 1 to 6 bottles, £0.50 per extra bottle
VinatisBest price2017 · 75cl · checked 27 Oct · Delivery £6 for 1 to 6 bottles, £0.50 per extra bottle
Out of stock
£578.08£770.77/L
Out of stock
Stock status is read from each retailer’s page once a day and may lag.
Tasting Notes
What Massetino tastes like
Polished black fruit, cedar and sweet spice from Masseto's blue-clay Merlot, a profile Wine Enthusiast's 98-point note for the 2022 confirms.
Tasted by
ItalianWines editorial
Tasted on
6 June 2026
Source
Drinker consensus · confidence Medium
Typical of Merlot
BodyLight / Full
TanninsSmooth / Grippy
SweetnessDry / Sweet
AciditySoft / Crisp
Nose
Massetino opens on ripe blackberry and plum. With them come the polished cedar, vanilla and coffee that 50 percent new French barrique gives Masseto's younger-vine fruit. Black fruit and oak dominate, with leather and woodsmoke underneath. A lift of violet and dried tobacco signals the small Cabernet Franc portion of the blend.
Violet
Black cherry
Blackberry
Plum
Tobacco
Leather
Oak
Liquorice
Vanilla
Palate
Merlot grown on the blue Pliocene clay of the Masseto hill carries this: a deep, smooth core of black cherry and plum. Merlot carries full body too, and the warmth of a 15 to 15.5 percent vintage. Over three weeks soaking on the skins and twelve months in the small barrels build tannins that are firm but well integrated. Cabernet Franc adds savoury, faintly herbal grip.
Finish
Long and sweet-spiced, closing on liquorice, cocoa and that cedar-and-leather frame from the French oak. The blue-clay freshness keeps the warm fruit from feeling heavy.
Overall
This is the second wine of Masseto, drawn from younger vines and parcels of the same Bolgheri hill. Its register is more open and earlier-drinking than the grand vin. Drinkers like it, year after year, and Wine Enthusiast gave the 2022 a 98-point Classic score. This is a Super Tuscan collectors reach for when Masseto itself is out of range.
Live UK pricing
Buying Massetino from Masseto
Production is tiny, so Massetino trades like a collectible: expect roughly 267 pounds and up across the 2017, 2022 and 2023 vintages we track from UK and EU merchants.
Best price · 75 cl · 2022£243.99at Vinatis
Price spread · 75cl · 2022
£243.99 - £329.00 Across 3 UK retailers with 75cl · 2022 in stock
Per-litre (75cl · 2022 basis)£325.32Lowest current 75cl · 2022 offer
Last checked29 Oct 2026Refreshed once every 24 hours
Other vintages and formats: 4 price lines
75cl · Vintage not stated:
£348.00,
1 UK retailer
75cl · 2017:
£500.00,
1 UK retailer
75cl · 2023:
£269.10 - £451.00,
4 UK retailers
75cl · 2024:
£264.70 - £348.00,
3 UK retailers
Wine fit score
How Massetino scores as an Italian wine
Strong on food, cellaring and occasion, weak on everyday value: this is a collector's Super Tuscan, not a midweek Merlot.
Best for an occasion9.3/10
The Masseto name, blue-clay Bolgheri pedigree and four-figure-adjacent pricing make Massetino a true special-occasion and gifting Super Tuscan.
Best for cellar8.6/10
Twelve months in French barrique plus over three weeks on skins give the tannin and concentration for a decade-plus in bottle; Wine Enthusiast called the 2022 gorgeous now and better past 2030.
Best with food8.5/10
A full-bodied, structured Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend with the acidity and tannin to partner Tuscan grilled beef, game and braises, though too powerful for delicate plates.
Best value4.5/10
At roughly 267 pounds and up it sits far above the Tuscan-red median. As the second wine of Masseto, though, it offers the estate's blue-clay Merlot pedigree at a fraction of the grand vin's price.
Best intro to this style3.2/10
An expensive, oak-framed Super Tuscan that rewards experience and cellaring rather than first-time exploration; the price and structure make it a poor entry point.
Best everyday bottle1.0/10
A cellar-built, 267-pound-plus collector's Merlot is the opposite of a midweek pour; its structure and price rule out everyday drinking.
Bolgheri growing seasons drive the style here, from the hot, early-picked 2017 to the storm-relieved, cool-September 2022 that Wine Enthusiast rated 98 points.
2024Current release
Best price
£264.70
Retailers
3 in stock
2023Previous release
Best price
£269.10
Retailers
4 in stock
ABV
15.5%
Window
Drink now
through 2038
The youngest Massetino in the range and the most tightly wound, built for the cellar rather than the table today. Vivino early voters place it among the top 7 percent of wines worldwide. Give it bottle age: the Merlot fruit and French-oak frame need a few years to settle, with the window opening around 2026.
2022Previous release
Best price
£243.99
Retailers
3 in stock
ABV
15.5%
Window
Drink now
through 2037
A drought of roughly 75 days from late May was broken by summer storms that restored balance, and cool September nights set the aromatics. Massetino's Merlot came in from 6 September, the Cabernet Franc through to 9 October. Wine Enthusiast scored the 2022 Massetino 98 points, calling it no less dexterous than Masseto itself.
2017Previous release
Best price
£500.00
Retailers
1 in stock
ABV
15.0%
Window
Drink now
through 2033
2017 was one of the hottest, driest seasons in recent Bolgheri history: a mild winter pushed budbreak two weeks early and a near-rainless summer kept berries small. Masseto picked Massetino's Merlot from 24 August, finishing in under a week to hold freshness and avoid over-ripeness, giving a concentrated, warm-vintage style now drinking well.
2017Previous release
Best price
£500.00
Retailers
1 in stock
ABV
15.0%
Window
Drink now
through 2033
2017 was one of the hottest, driest seasons in recent Bolgheri history: a mild winter pushed budbreak two weeks early and a near-rainless summer kept berries small. Masseto picked Massetino's Merlot from 24 August, finishing in under a week to hold freshness and avoid over-ripeness, giving a concentrated, warm-vintage style now drinking well.
2022Previous release
Best price
£243.99
Retailers
3 in stock
ABV
15.5%
Window
Drink now
through 2037
A drought of roughly 75 days from late May was broken by summer storms that restored balance, and cool September nights set the aromatics. Massetino's Merlot came in from 6 September, the Cabernet Franc through to 9 October. Wine Enthusiast scored the 2022 Massetino 98 points, calling it no less dexterous than Masseto itself.
2023Previous release
Best price
£269.10
Retailers
4 in stock
ABV
15.5%
Window
Drink now
through 2038
The youngest Massetino in the range and the most tightly wound, built for the cellar rather than the table today. Vivino early voters place it among the top 7 percent of wines worldwide. Give it bottle age: the Merlot fruit and French-oak frame need a few years to settle, with the window opening around 2026.
2024Current release
Best price
£264.70
Retailers
3 in stock
Drink-now / hold guidance reflects general style cues for this wine, not a forecast for a specific bottle. Where vintage-level editorial notes exist, they appear above.
The disciplinare, the place, the label
Why Massetino is priced where it is
The Masseto name, blue Pliocene clay soil and twelve months in French oak sit behind this wine. It costs a fraction of the grand vin but still trades in the hundreds.
01
DOC, DOCG, IGT: what the badges mean
Italian wine law sorts bottles into a pyramid. DOCG sits at the top: tightly drawn boundaries, prescribed grapes, mandatory ageing, government tasting before release. DOC is the same idea with looser thresholds. IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica) is broader still, requiring only that 85% of the grapes come from the named territory.
Toscana is in the IGT tier. That is not a quality verdict, it is a description of how much freedom the producer has at vinification and ageing.
02
The denomination rules, in detail
Allowed grapes. Varieties not yet recorded
Tasting panel. No mandatory pre-release tasting
03
Region and area context
Toscana falls within
Tuscany, covering Arezzo · Firenze · Grosseto · Livorno · Lucca · Massa Carrara · Pisa · Pistoia · Prato · Siena.
Massetino is drawn from the same blue Pliocene clay hill above Bolgheri as Masseto, the world's most famous Merlot. The estate's reputation alone lifts the second wine into the low hundreds of pounds.
02
Tiny, allocated production
Cost up
Output is extremely limited and sold on allocation, so the 2017, 2022 and 2023 trade like collectibles at roughly 267 pounds and up rather than at everyday Tuscan-red levels.
03
French barrique ageing, around half new
Cost up
Twelve months in French oak barrique, about 50 percent new, plus three more months in wood after blending, adds real barrel and cellar cost to every bottle.
04
Hand harvest and parcel-by-parcel vinification
Cost up
Grapes are picked by hand into small crates and each vineyard parcel is fermented separately with indigenous yeasts, a labour-intensive method that raises the cost per bottle.
05
Second wine, not the grand vin
Cost down
As Masseto's second label from younger vines, Massetino sells for a fraction of Masseto itself, which routinely trades well into four figures.
06
UK duty and VAT
Cost up
UK still-wine duty of 2.67 pounds per bottle plus 20 percent VAT apply on top of the merchant price, adding tens of pounds at this price level.
01
Masseto-hill fruit and the Masseto name
Cost up
Massetino is drawn from the same blue Pliocene clay hill above Bolgheri as Masseto, the world's most famous Merlot. The estate's reputation alone lifts the second wine into the low hundreds of pounds.
02
Tiny, allocated production
Cost up
Output is extremely limited and sold on allocation, so the 2017, 2022 and 2023 trade like collectibles at roughly 267 pounds and up rather than at everyday Tuscan-red levels.
03
French barrique ageing, around half new
Cost up
Twelve months in French oak barrique, about 50 percent new, plus three more months in wood after blending, adds real barrel and cellar cost to every bottle.
04
Hand harvest and parcel-by-parcel vinification
Cost up
Grapes are picked by hand into small crates and each vineyard parcel is fermented separately with indigenous yeasts, a labour-intensive method that raises the cost per bottle.
05
Second wine, not the grand vin
Cost down
As Masseto's second label from younger vines, Massetino sells for a fraction of Masseto itself, which routinely trades well into four figures.
06
UK duty and VAT
Cost up
UK still-wine duty of 2.67 pounds per bottle plus 20 percent VAT apply on top of the merchant price, adding tens of pounds at this price level.
Food Pairing
Merlot power and Tuscan tannin: what fits Massetino
A 15 percent-plus, barrique-framed Bordeaux blend wants Tuscan grilled beef, game and braises; it overwhelms delicate plates and clashes with chilli heat.
Tannin softeningStrong match
Tuscan grilled beef and bistecca
The firm, oak-built tannins of this Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend bind to the fat and char of grilled red meat. They soften on the palate while the wine's freshness cuts through. A classic coastal-Tuscan pairing for a wine off the Masseto hill.
Full body and a warm, 15 percent-plus core match the richness of long-braised and game dishes without being overwhelmed. The Cabernet Franc lifts the wine's savoury, herbal side, which echoes the gaminess of pheasant and the depth of a Barolo braise.
Try with: Brasato al Barolo · Agnello Ragu Lucano · Roast Pheasant · More pairings →
Fat cuttingGood match
Roast lamb and pork
Plum and black-cherry fruit plus structured tannin cut through the fat of roast lamb and pork, while the cedar and sweet-spice from French oak flatter the caramelised crust. Pour it with herb-roasted joints rather than delicate cuts.
Try with: Roast Lamb with Mint Sauce · Roast pork · Tandoori lamb chops
Salt balanceGood match
Aged hard cheese and pecorino
The wine's ripe black fruit and barrique sweetness balance the salt and crystalline bite of aged sheep's-milk cheese, while the tannin keeps the pairing fresh. A Tuscan pecorino with carasau bread is a natural foil for a Bolgheri red.
Try with: Pecorino sardo e pan carasau · Blue cheese · Stilton
Aromatic bridgeGood match
Lucanian lamb and southern stews
Liquorice, tobacco and balsamic notes in the wine bridge to the dried-chilli and herb seasoning of southern Italian lamb cookery. The Merlot fruit cushions the heat of peperoni cruschi while the tannin frames the meat.
Try with: Agnello Cacio e Ova · Peperoni Cruschi · Roast pork · More pairings →
AvoidClash
Avoid raw fish and chilli-heavy plates
A 15 percent-plus, tannic, oak-framed Super Tuscan flattens delicate raw fish and amplifies chilli heat, leaving both the wine and the dish out of balance. Save this Merlot for red meat, not the sushi counter or a fiery curry.
With over three weeks on skins and a year in French oak, Massetino holds a decade-plus; Wine Enthusiast called the 2022 gorgeous now and better past 2031.
Decanting
30 minutes
A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.
Serving temperature
16-18°C
Aim for the cooler end on a warm day; warmer end opens up more aromatics.
Cellar potential
High
Twelve months in French barrique plus over three weeks on skins give the tannin and concentration for a decade-plus in bottle; Wine Enthusiast called the 2022 gorgeous now and better past 2030.
Buy now or wait?
Buy now
£243.99 for a 75cl bottle of the 2022, at Vinatis, is the best price we track, and we have no signal of further discounting.
Sources & trust
Where these Massetino facts come from
Prices & stock
Read directly from each retailer’s public product page once a day.
Last refresh: 29 Oct 2026, 04:10 BST.
We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.
Confidence · High
Tasting notes
Drawn from published drinker ratings, summarised in our own words. A crowd read across many tasters, not a single critic.
Confidence · Medium
Appellation rules & ageing
From the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.
Confidence · High
Why it costs what it costs
Our reading of the price, drawn from the disciplinare, public UK duty rates, and typical landed-cost benchmarks. Not a quote from the producer or a retailer.
Confidence · Medium
Drink window & cellar potential
Style guidance for this kind of wine at this price point. Treat it as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.
Massetino is the second wine of Masseto, the cult Merlot estate on the blue-clay hill above Bolgheri in coastal Tuscany. It is a Merlot-led Bordeaux blend with a small share of Cabernet Franc, first released with the 2017 vintage in 2019, thirty years after the first Masseto.
Massetino is made mainly from Merlot with a small portion of Cabernet Franc, roughly 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc in recent vintages such as 2022. The fruit comes from the younger vines and additional parcels of the same Masseto hill that produces the grand vin.
Each parcel is fermented separately with its own wild yeasts and kept on the skins for over three weeks. It then ages about twelve months in French oak barrels, around half new, with a further three months in wood after the final blend. It is sealed under cork and estate-bottled at Masseto.
Massetino is the more open, earlier-drinking expression of the estate, drawn from younger vines, while Masseto itself is the flagship single-vineyard Merlot. Wine Enthusiast scored the 2022 Massetino 98 points, calling it no less impressive than its elder sibling but more approachable in its youth.
Pour Massetino with Tuscan grilled beef and bistecca, slow braises such as brasato al Barolo, roast lamb and game like pheasant, and aged pecorino. Its 15 percent-plus body and barrique tannins overwhelm raw fish and clash with chilli heat, so keep it away from the sushi counter.
The 2017 is drinking well now, the 2022 rewards cellaring towards 2031 and beyond, and the youngest 2023 needs a few years to settle. Across vintages it holds for a decade or more thanks to its structured Merlot fruit and French-oak frame.
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