La Massa La Massa Giorgio Primo 2018 750ml

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. (Monica Larner)

The 2018 Giorgio Primo represents a new level of finesse at La Massa. Powerful and dense in the glass, with tremendous structure, Giorgio Primo is a terrific example of how compelling international varieties are in Parzano’s Conca d’Oro district. Crème de cassis, spice, new leather, chocolate and sweet spice build into the textured, palate-staining finish. (Antonio Galloni)

The 2015 Giorgio Primo is polished, nuanced and silky, with tremendous freshness for the year. A move towards picking earlier results in a powerful, explosive wine of real character and pedigree. The 2015 is vibrant and exceptionally beautiful. It is also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted here. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. (Antonio Galloni)

The Fattoria La Massa 2018 Giorgio Primo is a wine of richness, volume and texture. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, and maceration times last 26 to 28 days to add the lovely depth and creaminess you taste here. Black fruit, crushed stone, truffle essence and toasted spice emerge from the bouquet. The wine’s full-bodied structure and its freshness promise a long cellar-aging future.

A red with beautiful depth of fruit and texture that shows blackcurrants, blueberries and cassis bush as well as just a hint of sweet tobacco and walnuts. Full-bodied, linear and tight, displaying a plush tannin texture yet with agility and length. A wine in balance and focus. Better in 2021.

Gorgeous aromas of blackcurrants and blackberries with hints of crushed stones and walnuts. Full body, firm and chewy tannins with blackberries and hints of chocolate and spice. Flavorful and intense at the end. Better after 2023, but better already very pretty. (James Suckling)

A supple, balanced red marked by evolving flavors of ripe sweet cherry, black currant, leather, mushroom and woodsy underbrush. Firms up and offers a lively structure, with a lingering, spicy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2032. 1,500 cases made, 40 cases imported. (Bruce Sanderson)