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La Massa Mixed Case, Fattoria La Massa Mixed Vintage

Tasting Notes

2015 Giorgio Primo - 97 points / 2013 Giorgio Primo - 97 points / 2015 Carla 6 - 96 points

2015 Giorgio Primo - 97 points
This wine blew my mind. The 2015 Giorgio Primo is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. I'm told that the percentage of Merlot will increase in 2016 (to a majority role) but will diminish by a large margin in 2017 because that hot vintage was so difficult on early-ripening varieties. The bouquet is nothing short of explosive, with inky black fruit followed by pencil shaving, chalkboard, wet river stone and all the other beautiful mineral notes that I so closely associate with Panzano in Chianti. Giorgio Primo is a baritone Tuscan red with spectacular depth and range to its inner voice. It sings loud and long, and in perfect melody too. It is a real beauty.

2013 Giorgio Primo - 97 points
This is a truly sumptuous wine that stands as a tall testament to the winemaking talents of Giampaolo Motta, his vision for interpreting this vintage and his specific vineyard site in Panzano in Chianti. This standout wine brings Fattoria la Massa to a new level of accomplishment and opens an exciting new chapter of possibility. The 2013 Giorgio Primo (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot) is dark and impenetrable on first impact. The aromas accelerate slowly and grow evenly in power and intensity after a few quick swirls of the glass. The bouquet peels back with dark fruit aromas, baking spice and Mediterranean herb. The effect is seamless and smooth. A velvety texture is accented by full-bodied richness and just enough freshness to keep the palate energized. And, of course, this is just the beginning of a long cellar life.

2015 Carla 6 - 96 points
The gorgeous 2015 Carla 6 is a supercharged expression of Sangiovese from a place that I can only describe as Sangiovese heaven: Panzano in Chianti. I'm told that berry size was smaller in this vintage, thus resulting in densely concentrated wines that are teeming with flavor and spirt. You most certainly get a sense of that here. This is a forward-moving and determined wine that leaves a lasting mark on the palate. It ages in tonneaux but then moves into cement for one year to complete its tannic and structural integration. After that, it rests in bottle for one more year to shake off any nervous youthfulness. This vintage possesses impressive energy and depth.

96/97
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (239), October 2018
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.