Each harvest is a blank page to write and brings with it a new experience and new knowledge to better interpret the vine plant and its extraordinary ability to respond to the stimuli of Nature.
The 2021 vintage was insidious and characterized by strong contrasts everywhere, making the phenomenon of climate change that now characterizes seasonal trends more concrete and tangible.
In Masseto, the great strength was certainly the responsiveness of the vines, helped, as the Director of the Estate Axel Heinz explains, by what he himself defined as 'resilience of the great terroirs': " its characteristics have made it possible to cushioning the climatic extremes and channeling them creating conditions that are limiting, but at the same time free of suffering. It is from these premises that great wines can be born . "
Fundamental, in this critical atmospheric situation, were the characterizing elements of Masseto such as soil and microclimate. For the soil element, the presence of that blue clay, an element of uniqueness of Masseto, was decisive, capable of accumulating water reserves in the depth of the soil, to release only the amount of water necessary to avoid excessive stress on the vines and to overcome the summer drought. The microclimate, characterized by sea breezes and mild temperatures, sheltered from frosts in spring, while in summer it guaranteed the ventilation necessary to overcome excess heat.
Here, then, is that the key to interpreting this complex season is once again the man-terroir combination. The synergy between the type of soil and production area, together with a work in the vineyard made of constancy and attention to every single detail, have made it possible to transform the pitfalls into exceptional strengths.
The harvest, without a drop of rain from the first to the last day, began on August 30 with the youngest vines and the earliest plots of the upper Masseto. The Merlot harvest saw five different passages until mid-September while the Cabernet Franc was harvested between 15 and 28 September.
The first sensations are those of a year of great style. As soon as the racking is finished, which is being completed in these days, the wines - which show great potential - will be transferred to the barriques where they will begin their long aging period. The road is still long but Axel Heinz tells his first sensations: “ the dry season concentrated the grapes, from which wines of great intensity and texture were born. The colors are particularly intense, as are the aromas, characterized by hints of fully ripe black berry fruit. In the mouth we find the unmistakable balance between richness and firmness that characterizes Masseto. The wines develop a rich and concentrated palate, with a dense and velvety tannic texture, the result of a careful and soft extraction, supported by a brilliant acidity that reminds us of some of the greatest vintages such as 2006, 2010 or 2016. "
All expectations that will have to materialize in two years, when the wine has finished its refinement and is ready to go into the bottle. As is now established practice in Masseto, the actions in the cellar are limited to the maximum to let the wines find their natural balance between fullness and harmony that tell the bond of belonging to a terroir with an unmistakable identity. Masseto, as Axel Heinz describes it, is “truly a magical place where nature makes the most important decisions”.
The novelties of the 2021 vintage
2021 also brought a novelty to the cellar with the arrival of Gaia Cinnirella, who starting from this harvest took on the role of enologist from Masseto under the supervision of Axel Heinz. Gaia, former Assistant Technical Director and later Head of Biondi Santi Vineyards from 2018-2021, declared herself enthusiastic to be able to contribute to the growth and oenological stability of a winery like Masseto: " After the internships at important realities such as Allegrini and Tenuta San Guido , I was able to develop my passion first in the Istine company and then in Biondi Santi. Now I am proud to be part of this incredible team and excited to be able to contribute with my work to the creation of wines with a unique character: a dream for those who, like me, love their work and live every experience as an opportunity for growth. The extremely stimulating and constantly evolving environment will be a challenge for me with an eye always looking forward, like a wine such as Masseto requires ".
