CRITIC REVIEWS
Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Giorgio Primo is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It opens with savory notes of sauteed herbs, tapenade, and chargrill, giving way to a core of baked black plums and creme de cassis. The full-bodied palate is taut with black fruit preserves and herbal flavors, supported by firm, chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and savory.
James Button
‘[Winemaking consultant] Stéphane Derenoncourt told me hed never seen Cabernet ripen like it does here!’ La Massas Giampaolo Motta told me enthusiastically. Giorgio Primo is the estates flagship wine, a Bordeaux blend to which Giampaolo proudly pins his colours. This 2019 will be the first vintage to be distributed via La Place, the realisation of an ambition he has had for his wines since the beginning. La Massas vineyards are situated in the Conca dOro in Panzano, unique for being the only area to have a mix of all of Chianti Classicos three main soil types – take a few steps through a row of Giampaolos vines and its possible to go from friable schist to limestone to sandstone. Consequently, Giampaolo harvests, vinifies and matures by microlot to capture the essence of each spot. Herbal, plummy and earthy, this 2019 is rich in chocolate, spice and black fruits. Concentrated and silky, its glossy dark fruit is lifted by a streak of sapid red fruits, a balsamic fresh element and mouthwatering acidity. Keep for a few years before opening to see it at its best.