2012 Masseto

The 2012 Masseto is an incredibly sexy wine. I can’t believe how expressive it is here. The year was mostly warm and dry, but not excessively so. Raspberry jam, mint, spice, white chocolate and sweet floral notes all race out of the glass. Sumptuous in feel, with gorgeous, open-knit fruit and soaring aromatic intensity, the 2012 dazzles from start to finish. What a wine!

Once again, Masseto shows why it is one of the world's truly great wines. Vibrant and nuanced in the glass, the 2012 possesses magnificent complexity to match its textured, inviting personality. Black cherry, espresso, smoke and licorice meld into the creamy, resonant finish. The 2012 is not a huge Masseto, but rather a wine that convinces with its exceptional balance. In 2012, I give Masseto a slight edge over Ornellaia. Conversely, in 2011, it was the opposite.

The 2012 Masseto is seductive from the first sip. The 2011 edition of this wine was very successful, and not too different in character from this wine. What the 2012 vintage offers instead is a level of textural richness and creaminess that is absolutely outstanding. The very nature of the fruit feels velvety and silky smooth, without a single ripple. The bouquet reveals upfront aromas of dark cherry and spice that are contrasted perfectly against one another. Classic vintages of Masseto include 2001 and 2006. The 2012 vintage doesn't offer the same backbone firmness as those years, but it offers lots more exuberant richness instead. Some 32,000 bottles were produced. The wine should hold forward for many, many years.