2009 & 2016 La Massa "La Massa" Toscana

“What beautiful flowers, with hints of currants and blueberries. Very perfumed. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and bright acidity. Citrus rind and lots of fruit. Love the bright finish. Makes you want to drink it. A little chewy. So better in 2013.” (12/2011)

“The 2009 La Massa flows from the glass with layers of freshly cut flowers, dark red berries and subtle French oak. This radiant red from Chianti Classico’s famed Conca d’Oro impresses for its open personality and inner palate juiciness. This is a striking wine from La Massa and proprietor Giampaolo Motta. In 2009 Motta opted for relatively short fermentations of 12-15 days for his Sangiovese. The blend was 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. Never satisfied, the relentless Giampaolo Motta continues to push the envelope at La Massa. Vintage 2009 is the first in which he worked with Stephan Derenoncourt for the entire harvest. The entry-level La Massa, now a showcase for the estate’s Sangiovese, is made with a shorter fermentation and an eye on finesse more than the heft of previous years. Over the last few years Motta has restyled Giorgio Primo to focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfortunately I was not able to taste the 2009, but I did revisit the 2007 and 2008. Motta describes 2009 as an important vintage. Cool weather and rain allowed the fruit to recover from the intense August heat. Vintage 2008 was a year of average heat and sun, with rain during the harvest that required a focus on the best-exposed parcels. Motta is quite candid that he isn’t fully satisfied with how some of his earlier wines have aged. With this amount of dedication it is only a matter of time before Motta finds an approach he is happier with.” (08/2011)

“Ripe cherry, raspberry, tobacco and mineral flavors mark this muscular, dense red. There are plenty of tannins on the finish, but I like the matching fruit. Sangiovese with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2013 through 2020.” (10/2011)

“This shows some really impressive, herbal complexity, spanning a whole spectrum of rosemary and pine needles, before tile, crushed stones, blackcurrants and bay leaves enter the picture. The polish to the firm yet generous tannins captivates, as does the precision to the acidity and long finish.” (07/2018)

“The 2016 La Massa is a terrific blend of 65% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon available at an accessible price. Alicante Bouschet was used in the blend until last year but has now been removed. The results are surprisingly complex and profound, although the wine's best asset is the fresh and straightforward approach it makes, especially on the palate. That inner depth will give this wine some proper aging potential I should expect. This vintage shows lots of tension and dimension. The warm 2015 vintage shows sunny softness, but 2016 has more overall freshness. (ML)” (10/2018)

“The 2016 La Massa is a gorgeous entry-label wine from La Massa and proprietor Giampaolo Motta. Grilled herb, leather, menthol, plum and blueberry notes literally explode from the glass as this extroverted wine shows off its flamboyant personality. The 2016 offers superb aromatic intensity, vibrant fruit and exceptional balance. In today's world, La Massa is also an exceptional value Don't miss it! (AG)” (02/2019)