La Massa La Massa Toscana 2023

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This wine is juicy, elegant, round, and smooth – and it just so happens to be the entry-level price point for the spectacular La Massa portfolio. What a price! 95 points from Decanter for this “full-bodied and generous” Sangiovese blend from the heart of Chianti is truly admirable, but to have such high praise and still come in under $30 on three or more?! Practically a miracle.

The incredible La Massa estate sits in the heart of Chianti Classico – overlooking the magnificent and revered valley of Conca d’Oro in Panzano. Giampaolo Motta – or as his friends lovingly call him, “Giampagne” (the guy loves his Champagne) – is the visionary behind La Massa since its founding in 1992, when he left the family’s leather goods business in Naples and ventured to Chianti to learn the art of winemaking.

He developed a love for Bordeaux wines and journeyed there to further hone his craft before purchasing the 27 hectares of La Massa in Panzano – Italy’s first official region to be classified as fully organic, with every last producer farming according to organic practices. The land here had been farmed to vines since the 15th century, and the earliest wines of La Massa brought this property back to prominence almost immediately. His vineyard land is exceptionally diverse – with three distinct soil types that are well-suited to Bordeaux varietals and completely unique for this area of Tuscany. His dedication to plantings of varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot originally drew the ire of Chianti traditionalists, but after soil studies and maps of the region were created – his brashness was vindicated. This is some of the most unique land in all of Chianti.

But Giampaolo was far from finished disrupting the status quo. He joined up with an old friend from Bordeaux, the legendary Stephane Derenoncourt (whose consulting resume includes Clos Fourtet, Clos de l'Oratoire, Chateau Pavie-Macquin, Smith Haut Lafitte, Napa’s Rubicon Estate, and more), beginning in 2008 to take the winemaking to the next level. And that has certainly been the case – with the best wines of the estate’s history coming over the past decade.

This 2023 is certain to be numbered among them, and again, for this price point – simply a tremendous achievement, even after a tough season with low yields. Mostly Sangiovese, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the tiniest dashes of Petit Verdot and Alicante Bouschet, this is a fantastically balanced and exceptionally pretty wine – packed with deep notes of blueberries, black cherries, plums, and blackberry coulis. It’s layered and focused, with uplifting acidity and plenty of structure, with flecks of iron, roasted herbs, star anise, and a fresh, minty finish. Pretty much the most perfect marriage between Bordeaux and Tuscany that you can get for under $50 (or under $30 if you opt for three). A sincerely stunning wine from some of the best folks in the biz!

FOOD PAIRINGS: Kick up the flavor with a simple yet incredibly rich and tangy lemony Calabrian chili pasta – such a star next to this sensational Super Tuscan.