Winemaker's Notes:

Rating: 92 Points (Vinous Media)

“A big, dark wine, the 2013 Merlot is just beginning to develop the first signs of aromatic complexity. Plum, black cherry, menthol, chocolate and leather infuse the super-expressive finish. Once again, the pure pedigree of the 2013 vintage comes through loud and clear. This is a drop-dead gorgeous wine from Shafer.”

Rating: 90 Points (Vinous Media)

"The ripeness and weight of the year are evident in the 2015 Merlot. Dark and brooding in feel, with very ripe fruit, the Merlot offers good depth in its blackberry jam, spice and chocolate flavors. I would prefer to drink it sooner rather than later. - Antonio Galloni "

Rating: 100 Points (Wine Advocate)

"The release of this wine comes at a very happy time for the Masseto brand. The stunning 2015 Masseto is hitting the market just as the final touches are being made to the new Masseto winery. I'm told that Masseto might one day see other wines made under that same roof, so we can't exclude a future enlargement of the Masseto portfolio. The Masseto vineyard now covers seven hectares (divided into three plots), and the vines range from 30 to 40 years old. The wine is absolutely teeming with sensorial spirit that is transmitted through the bounty of the bouquet and the solid tannins of the mouthfeel. The 2015 vintage is characterized by a level of sheer exuberance that also defined the 2004 and 2007 vintages. Yet, it also reveals similar power, directness and linearity that we saw in the 2010 vintage. The 2015 Masseto takes the best of all those past vintages and confines those qualities to this single, spectacular bottle." (Monica Larner)