Region: Tuscany
Sub Region: Bolgheri
Variety: Merlot
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
Masseto is one of Italy’s defining fine wines: a pure expression of Merlot grown on a solitary hillside overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. At its core lies a seam of fossil-rich Pliocene blue clay whose capacity to retain water, moderate vine stress and build formidable tannin gives Masseto its signature union of power and silk.
The 2023 season demanded precision. A mild winter was followed by a wet spring and warm summer, before late-August rain and cool September nights restored balance and protected acidity. Harvest ran from early September into October, allowing each section of the vineyard to be picked at its optimum point.
Made entirely from Merlot, Masseto 2023 spent 24 months in French oak, 70% new. Dark cherry, blackberry and plum sit alongside graphite, mint, rosemary, cocoa, sweet tobacco and polished oak. It is full-bodied and deeply concentrated, yet the defining impression is energy rather than mass: finely structured tannins, bright acidity and a long, mineral finish keep the wine poised.
Pre-arrival offer: This wine has been secured through La Place de Bordeaux, with delivery expected in May–June 2027. Pricing will increase once the wine arrives in Australia. All La Place wines offered by Cellared Fine Wine are from confirmed allocations and have already been paid for in full. If this wine is marked sold out, please contact us to enquire about additional allocation availability.
Cellared Says
Masseto can sometimes arrive like an orchestral crescendo. The 2023 is more measured—still sumptuous, but shaped by freshness, aromatic detail and a distinct sense of mineral tension. It needs time for the oak and youthful tannin to knit fully into the fruit, but its balance is already compelling. Cellar confidently and begin exploring from 2029; it should evolve beautifully through 2050 and beyond. Tasted April 2026
Reviews
Bottled in the first week of December 2025, the 2023 Masseto is deeply expressive and layered, with aromas of wet stone, mint, vanilla, and petrichor, alongside a striking sense of chalky minerality. As it opens, notes of lavender oil, juniper, rosemary, and Amarena cherry coated in dark chocolate emerge with remarkable clarity. Full-bodied, it delivers power without weight, combining opulence with restraint. The tannins are finely structured, the acidity vibrant, and the length profound. This is a vintage built on precision and energy, with a structure that will reward patience over the long term. Drink 2028-2050.
99 points — Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
Intense, dark and meaty style with vibrant elegance of balsamic whiffs, clove and slight florals, with a mix of plums and cassis and graphite minerality in depth. The attack is impressive for its suppleness and silky texture, with elegant tannins, graceful brilliant acidity and toasty flavors of cocoa-milk, sweet tobacco and fruits. Endless aftertaste. Best after two-three years but drinkable now as well.
98 points — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
Region: Tuscany
Sub Region: Bolgheri
Variety: Merlot
Country: Italy
Vintage: 2023
The Wine
Masseto is one of Italy’s defining fine wines: a pure expression of Merlot grown on a solitary hillside overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. At its core lies a seam of fossil-rich Pliocene blue clay whose capacity to retain water, moderate vine stress and build formidable tannin gives Masseto its signature union of power and silk.
The 2023 season demanded precision. A mild winter was followed by a wet spring and warm summer, before late-August rain and cool September nights restored balance and protected acidity. Harvest ran from early September into October, allowing each section of the vineyard to be picked at its optimum point.
Made entirely from Merlot, Masseto 2023 spent 24 months in French oak, 70% new. Dark cherry, blackberry and plum sit alongside graphite, mint, rosemary, cocoa, sweet tobacco and polished oak. It is full-bodied and deeply concentrated, yet the defining impression is energy rather than mass: finely structured tannins, bright acidity and a long, mineral finish keep the wine poised.
Pre-arrival offer: This wine has been secured through La Place de Bordeaux, with delivery expected in May–June 2027. Pricing will increase once the wine arrives in Australia. All La Place wines offered by Cellared Fine Wine are from confirmed allocations and have already been paid for in full. If this wine is marked sold out, please contact us to enquire about additional allocation availability.
Cellared Says
Masseto can sometimes arrive like an orchestral crescendo. The 2023 is more measured—still sumptuous, but shaped by freshness, aromatic detail and a distinct sense of mineral tension. It needs time for the oak and youthful tannin to knit fully into the fruit, but its balance is already compelling. Cellar confidently and begin exploring from 2029; it should evolve beautifully through 2050 and beyond. Tasted April 2026
Reviews
Bottled in the first week of December 2025, the 2023 Masseto is deeply expressive and layered, with aromas of wet stone, mint, vanilla, and petrichor, alongside a striking sense of chalky minerality. As it opens, notes of lavender oil, juniper, rosemary, and Amarena cherry coated in dark chocolate emerge with remarkable clarity. Full-bodied, it delivers power without weight, combining opulence with restraint. The tannins are finely structured, the acidity vibrant, and the length profound. This is a vintage built on precision and energy, with a structure that will reward patience over the long term. Drink 2028-2050.
99 points — Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com
Intense, dark and meaty style with vibrant elegance of balsamic whiffs, clove and slight florals, with a mix of plums and cassis and graphite minerality in depth. The attack is impressive for its suppleness and silky texture, with elegant tannins, graceful brilliant acidity and toasty flavors of cocoa-milk, sweet tobacco and fruits. Endless aftertaste. Best after two-three years but drinkable now as well.
98 points — James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
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