October Dear Valued Partner, it is with great pleasure that we present Masseto 2014.

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2 October 2017 Dear Valued Partner, it is with great pleasure that we present Masseto This vintage goes into our history books as one of the longest & latest harvests ever... even later than the 2010 harvest! After a wet, mild winter, spring conditions were good through to July while August presented some challenges with plentiful rainfalls, when the presence of the blue clay in our vineyards certainly came into its own. In very wet conditions, the clays become impenetrable thus protecting the vines from excessive moisture. In fact, the vines developed very successfully and were able to mature well into September/October with perfect ease and confidence. Stylistically the wine shows a beautiful sense of balance with sweet, soft tannins and a remarkable aromatic complexity. It speaks of refined sensuality, and silky seductiveness in a distinctively elegant, classic way. Axel Heinz (Winemaker & Estate Director) remarks that vintage 2014 revealed the incredible capacity of Masseto to perfectly cope with the uneven climatic conditions thanks also to the fundamental role of the clay and the overall natural balance of the vines. A harmonious combination of Nature s terroir and human interpretation. This year marks a very special year for Masseto. We have started excavations, delving deep into the heart of the Masseto hill, in order to lay the foundations for a dedicated winery that will be completed for harvest It has been amazing to witness the uncovering of these clays... blue, impenetrable and exceptional, hiding secrets of millions of years. We take pleasure in sharing details of these clay massi in the accompanying photographs. As we have crafted with passion and enthusiasm this new vintage Masseto 2014, we wish you every joy and satisfaction in nurturing the wine on its future path. With kind regards, Alexandra Belson Director Bolgheri Castagneto Carducci Livorno - Italia

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5 The Masseto hill is a special place... both a revelation and a mystery, as it majestically lifts its head to look out across the Mediterranean sea. This is where terroir victoriously transcends the grape varieties and where the blue clays of the Pliocene Era tell their ancient story. Millions of years ago a deep marine substrate was deposited which transformed gradually into blue clay that came to the surface on this hill after thousands of years of erosion. The shells and fossils found imbedded in the clays are testimony to this. With a heart as hard as stone and yet with an intriguing fragility, the clay knows just how to adjust to its environment & climate. This contrast is reflected in the intense power and silky elegance to be found in Masseto. The intuition of man has played an important part in understanding that it would be in this very place that something important would happen... something which would offer new, unique perspectives.

6 MASSETO 2014 Toscana IGT CLIMATE AND VINTAGE The 2014 vintage will remain as one of the most particular in Masseto s history. A warm and rainy winter was followed by a mild, dry spring that permitted a normal vegetative development with a timely and even flowering. After regular conditions in July, August was rainy and cold, creating difficulty for the grapes to ripen and increasing the risk of diseases. However, the meticulous work carried out in the vineyard, including leaf removal and treatments throughout the month of August, allowed the grapes to arrive in excellent condition for harvest in September and October when the weather was mostly sunny and dry. As always, great terroir tell their own story, and in 2014 the blue clays of Masseto showed their capacity to a full by swelling and making the soils impenetrable, thus avoiding excessive accumulation of water and the dilution of the grapes. During the harvest the meticulous selection of bunches was essential and some specific vineyard blocks were harvested in up to three different stages. A strict selection was also made on the sorting table, so as to fill the tanks with only perfect grapes represents the latest and longest harvest in the history of Masseto. Starting on 5 September with the younger vines and ending on 7 October with the last rows in the sections of Masseto Alto and Masseto Centrale. VINIFICATION AND AGING The bunches, harvested by hand in 15kg crates, were selected by hand on a double sorting table before and after de-stemming, and then gently crushed. In this vintage 8 individual parcel lots were picked and vinified separately. The fermentation took place in tanks of both steel and wood, followed by a maceration of days at a temperature between 25 and 30 C. Malolactic fermentation started in 100% new oak barriques, and the different lots were kept separate for the first 12 months of maturation. The wine was then assembled and reintroduced into the barriques for another year. After bottling, the wine was aged for an additional 12 months prior to release. TASTING NOTES In a vintage where the quality of the terroir, the patience and rigor of the workers made it possible to achieve full ripening, Masseto 2014 represents a most elegant and refined expression. Intense in colour the nose immediately reveals complexity and freshness with hints of red berries, sweet spices, and a slight aroma of toasted wood. On the palate silky with a fine, smooth texture, supported by a vibrant fruitiness and a lively acidity, all perfectly integrated. A long, intense finish concludes the tasting. Tasting February 2017 Bolgheri Castagneto Carducci Livorno - Italia

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