Masseto
Masseto is Bolgheri's benchmark 100% Merlot, grown on the blue-clay hill that gives the wine its name. Plot-by-plot fermentation and two years in French oak build a dense, velvety Toscana IGT of blackberry, cocoa and graphite. A collector's wine: cel
Drinker consensus on Vivino (4.7 from more than 20,000 ratings) and Decanter's vintage notes converge on blackberry, cocoa and graphite over ripe, grainy tannins drawn from the Masseto hill's blue clay.
The Vivino crowd, 4.7 from more than 20,000 ratings, leads with oak, chocolate and vanilla, then blackberry and plum, with leather and truffle underneath. Decanter's 2019 note adds graphite, wild fennel and sweet tobacco, the savoury signature of the Masseto hill's blue clay.
Coffee
Violet
Black cherry
Blackberry
Plum
Tobacco
Leather
Oak
CocoaBold and smooth, with firm but ripe, grainy tannins the producer ties to the vineyard's Pliocene blue clay. Plot-by-plot fermentation in steel and wood under oenologist Axel Heinz builds blackberry and dark-cherry concentration, framed by cocoa and espresso from 24 months in French oak and carried by enticing acidity.
Long and savoury, closing on graphite, sweet tobacco and fine-grained oak rather than overt sweetness.
Masseto sits at the very top of its single-vineyard range, a cult 100% Merlot from Bolgheri that drinkers consistently rate among Tuscany's finest. It is best from the strongest vintages with a decade or more of age; the 2016 and 2019 are the ones to chase.
Masseto trades on the UK fine-wine market from around 700 pounds a bottle. The 2016 and 2019 are the standout cellar vintages, the 2022 the latest release.
Scored across food, value, cellar and occasion, Masseto reads as a special-occasion collector's Merlot rather than an everyday or beginner's bottle.
A landmark special-occasion bottle and one of Italy's most prestigious Merlots.
Firm tannin, 24 months in French oak and exceptional vintages give 15 to 25 years of cellar life.
Full-bodied Merlot with ripe tannin and savoury acidity; superb with red meat and game, less flexible with light or spicy food.
At 700 pounds and up, Masseto sits far above the Toscana IGT median price; it is bought for prestige and ageing, not value.
Scoring is rule-based and deterministic. The model and weightings are documented in our editorial methodology.
A compact view of what the Toscana denomination actually requires, and how this bottle sits inside it. Pulled from the official Italian disciplinare.
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Vintage matters at this level: 2016 and 2019 are exceptional Bolgheri years, while 2022 was a warmer, riper season that Decanter still scored 98.
A warm, dry 2022 produced a powerful, ripe Masseto scored 98 by Decanter and 98+ by Jeb Dunnuck. Generous dark fruit and firm structure built for the cellar.
2021 marks Masseto's return to 100% Merlot, aged 24 months in 100% new French oak. Ripe Morello cherry, blueberry and espresso run through a fine graphite thread.
Decanter scored the 2019 99 points: wild fennel, bramble fruit and graphite over grainy, ripe tannins from the blue clay, with enticing acidity and a sweet-tobacco close.
2016 ranks among Bolgheri's greatest vintages. A long, even growing season gave Masseto density with poised acidity and a very long cellar life.
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.
Seven hectares of Pliocene blue clay, plot-by-plot fermentation under oenologist Axel Heinz, and 24 months in French oak explain Masseto's price and scarcity.
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.
Toscana falls within Tuscany , covering Tuscany.
Masseto comes from only seven hectares of Pliocene blue clay in Bolgheri. Tiny output against global cult demand is the main reason a bottle runs above 700 pounds.
The 2021 spends 24 months in 100% new French oak. Barrel cost and two years of cellar tie-up add materially to the bottle price.
Each parcel ferments separately in steel and wood with 15 to 28 day macerations before blending, a labour-intensive regime that raises cellar cost.
Scores of 98 to 99 from Decanter and Jeb Dunnuck across recent vintages sustain secondary-market demand and keep release prices high.
UK still-wine duty of 2.67 pounds plus 20% VAT adds roughly 140 pounds of tax to a 716 pound bottle at current 2026 HMRC rates.
Dishes that complement this wine
Masseto's ripe tannins and savoury depth call for slow-cooked red meat. Tuscan bistecca, brasato and aged Pecorino bridge the wine's cocoa and graphite.
Masseto carries firm, grainy tannin and high alcohol. The protein and fat of a chargrilled Tuscan T-bone or a long brasato bind that tannin and let the wine's cocoa and graphite core come forward.
Try with: Fiorentina steak · Brasato al Barolo · Ossobuco alla Milanese · Beef stew · More pairings →
The wine's full body and dark-fruit depth match the richness of game and braised lamb without being overwhelmed, while its acidity keeps the savoury, gamey flavours fresh.
Try with: Coniglio alla ligure · Agnello Ragu Lucano · Agnello Cacio e Ova · Brasato al Barolo · More pairings →
Masseto's tertiary leather and truffle notes, flagged by Vivino drinkers, bridge directly to earthy truffle and porcini, an aroma echo that makes both wine and dish taste deeper.
Try with: Tagliatelle al tartufo di Acqualagna · Tajarin al Tartufo · Truffle risotto · Porcini mushroom risotto · More pairings →
Salty, crystalline aged sheep's cheese meets the wine's tannin and acidity, which cut the fat and refresh the palate between bites.
Try with: Pecorino sardo e pan carasau · Aged Pecorino Toscano · Parmigiano Reggiano · More pairings →
High alcohol amplifies chilli heat and the firm tannin clashes with oily fish, turning metallic. Masseto also overwhelms delicate, lightly seasoned dishes.
Skip with: Vindaloo · Sichuan-style hotpot · Grilled mackerel · Sushi · Pairing guide →
Built for the long haul, Masseto's structure carries the strongest vintages 15 to 25 years; the 2016 and 2019 reward patience most.
Peak around 2034. Best in the years above; holds without falling over either side.
A short splash decant softens the first-pour edge and opens the aromatics.
Firm tannin, 24 months in French oak and exceptional vintages give 15 to 25 years of cellar life.
£716.42 is the lowest tracked offer for the current vintage and we have no signal of further discounting.
Read directly from each retailer’s public product page once a day. Last refresh: 7 Jun 2026, 14:39 BST. We do not hold stock and we do not accept payment for placement.
Confidence · HighDrawn from what drinkers consistently report on Vivino and Wine-Searcher, summarised in our own words. A crowd read across many tasters, not a single critic.
Confidence · MediumFrom the official Italian disciplinare for this denomination, cross-checked against the Ministry of Agriculture register.
Confidence · HighOur 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 · MediumStyle guidance for this kind of wine at this price point. Treat it as advice, not a forecast for the bottle in your hand.
Confidence · MediumYes. Masseto is a single-varietal Merlot from Bolgheri. The 2021 vintage returned to 100% Merlot after two releases that included around 15% Cabernet Franc.
Masseto comes from just seven hectares of blue clay, with plot-by-plot fermentation and 24 months in French oak. Tiny production and cult demand push UK prices above 700 pounds a bottle.
Expect blackberry and plum, cocoa and vanilla oak, leather and truffle, with violet and a graphite edge. Vivino drinkers rate it 4.7 and call it bold, smooth and firmly tannic.
Masseto is built to cellar. The strongest vintages drink well for 15 to 25 years; 2016 and 2019 are exceptional and reward the longest keeping.
Slow-cooked beef, game and aged hard cheese. Tuscan Fiorentina steak, brasato and truffle pasta suit it best. Avoid fierce chilli heat and oily fish.
Masseto grows on a blue-clay hill in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. It is labelled Toscana IGT rather than Bolgheri DOC.
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