93 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2018 La Massa is dark, fleshy and super-expressive. Blackberry jam, cloves, chocolate and crème de cassis all come alive in this wonderfully deep, voluptuous red blend of 50% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and Alicante Bouschet. -Antonio Galloni
93 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - A plush red with sweet-berry and spice aromas and flavors. Hints of vanilla. Full body. Lush and delicious. Needs a little time to come together, but already very attractive. Drink or hold.
91 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE - Beautiful and seamless, the 2017 La Massa beats the heat. There is little sign of a warm vintage in this blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon plus Alicante Bouschet. The wine turned out terrifically bright and nuanced with its light spice and blackberry notes. Present it alongside a veal tagliata with rosemary. With 78,000 bottles made, you get terrific value here.
MISSION NOTES: One of the best values in Tuscan red, La Massa—made by Gianpaolo Motta—is a blend of Sangiovese with a bit of Cabernet and Merlot, rounding out some of those more acidic edges and giving the wine a plusher mouthfeel on the palate. If you like Chianti or Montalcino, but you want something a bit more affordable and approachable for everyday drinking, you can pop the La Massa on a weeknight, or put it in your cellar for a few years. It drinks well right now, but it has the stuffing to evolve as well.
