2013 Castello ColleMassari Montecucco Rosso Riserva DOC 750 ml

Galloni gushes: “That wine is so **** good!”

We ran into Antonio Galloni last December at an event in Manhattan. Every time we see each other, the conversation always turns to wine — what else?

We mentioned that we’d be offering the 2013 Castello ColleMassari Montecucco Rosso Riserva. Galloni had tasted the wine a few weeks earlier, and scored it 94 points. In his Vinous review, Galloni called the 2013 Rosso Riserva “superb.” “Rich, ample and dramatic on the palate,” the world’s leading Italian wine critic wrote, “the 2013 fleshes out effortlessly in all directions. Dark cherry, plum, menthol, licorice and new leather shape this pliant and beautifully resonant Sangiovese/Ciliegiolo/Cabernet Sauvignon blend.” He concluded: “This is one of the finest wines I have tasted from ColleMassari.”

In person, Galloni had another take: “That wine is so good!” There may have even been an expletive between “so” and “good.”

To those familiar with Castello ColleMassari, Galloni’s enthusiasm will come as no surprise. Founded in 1998 by Claudio Tipa — owner of Bolgheri’s famed Grattamacco estate — ColleMassari has continually upstaged its Tuscan neighbors offering lesser wines with higher price tags. In 2014, following the release of the outstanding 94-point Rosso Riserva, ColleMassari received the highest honor in Italian wine — Gambero Rosso’s “Winery of the Year” award.

The estate sits on 3,000 acres nestled in the foothills of Mt. Amiata in Montecucco. Almost 275 acres of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ciliegiolo, and several native white varieties are planted on steep slopes, providing excellent drainage for the vines. Natural ventilation off the slopes coupled with strong thermal excursions create a unique microclimate that allows Sangiovese to take on a distinct personality here. Soils are primarily tuffaceous clay and calcareous marl, endowing the wine with a beautiful mineral component.

In a state-of-the-art, gravity-fed winery, the Rosso Riserva undergoes a 25- to 30-day vinification in stainless-steel vats. The wine is then aged for 18 months in vats, barrique, and tonneaux, followed by a minimum of 12 months in bottle. This extended aging process results in a profound depth of flavor and complexity in the Rosso Riserva — exactly what had Galloni swooning.

Compared to its neighbors on Galloni’s “Best of” Tuscany 2013 list, the Rosso Riserva is a bona fide steal. At 94 points, the 2013 outscored a long list of $100-300 bottles, making it one of the best values from Italy’s central coast in YEARS. $27 on release. Just $22 today. A MUST-case-buy, exclusively on WineAccess.