About this wine
Vineyard and terroir
Massara occupies 1.2249 ha in Verduno on parcel 137p of land-registry map sheet X. The south-east-facing vineyard lies at 265 m above sea level and was planted partly in 1988 and partly in 1992. Its white Marne di Sant’Agata soil is predominantly chalky clay, comprising 30% sand, 55% clay and 15% limestone. The site produces fragrant, elegant wines with substantial ageing potential.
Grapes
100% Nebbiolo.
Vinification
The 2009 grapes were picked by hand on 6 October. Only the best bunches were selected and placed in 20 kg baskets. Maceration in an open-top wooden vat lasted 40 days, with regular punching down. After alcoholic fermentation, the cap was submerged to continue extraction through static maceration.
Ageing
The wine matured for 32 months in large Slavonian oak casks and then for 2 months in steel tanks. It subsequently spent 21 months in bottle before release in September 2014. Bottling took place on 1 October 2012 without fining or filtration; the lot number was L12-10.
Technical data
The 2009 vintage has 14.50% alcohol and total acidity of 5.8 g/L. Production comprised 5,294 Albeisa bottles, 330 half-bottles, 203 magnums and 17 Jeroboams.
Tasting profile
Clear garnet red. The warm, complex aroma combines herbs, blackberry, mint, sweet liquorice and ripe fruit. The palate is full-bodied and flavoursome, with firm tannins and a long, savoury finish.
Vintage notes
Heavy winter snowfall created substantial water reserves for a growing season in which rain was absent through much of the summer. September and October brought favourable conditions, and fine weather supported the harvest of both early- and late-ripening varieties.
