Sotheby’s and Masseto to offer the very first bottles to be released directly from the Masseto Caveau

Exclusive and limited edition past vintages of Masseto stored in the Tuscan estate’s steel cellar deep beneath the vineyard

ONLINE AUCTION: 12 – 27 APRIL 2023

“What is Masseto – above all, it is seductive opulence! With its deep, velvety, black cherries flavour and exotic chocolatey allure, Masseto is always exciting and a marvellous expression of luscious Merlot. You could call it noble perfection.”

Serena Sutcliffe, MW, Honorary Chairman, Sotheby’s Wine

TUSCANY, PARIS & LONDON, 24 March 2023 – The Tuscan wines have a long-established pedigree among wine connoisseurs worldwide. Masseto, born out of a small patch of the million-year-old Pliocene clay soil on the Tuscan Coast and overlooking the Tyrrenian Sea, has gained a unique place in the pantheon of collectible wines, to become one of the most valuable, coveted wines in all of Italy and beyond.

The Masseto estate is located on a magical hillside where merlot creates unique, individual, complex, compelling yet elegant wines, with each vintage having the specific personality of Masseto, but always showing a different facet.

This spring, Sotheby’s and Masseto will join forces to present at auction an extremely limited number of bottles in varying formats directly from the Masseto Caveau – the most secret space in the winery’s cellar carved deep beneath the vineyard of the same name. It is in this stunningly designed location that bottles of every Masseto vintage rest in perfect conditions, each protected in its very own steel cradle.

Open for bidding from 12 to 27 April, Masseto | The Caveau Release comprises vintages spanning three decades, including 35 cases containing the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, as well as magnums, double magnums, imperials and a single nebuchadnezzar. The 46 lots – an offering of 132 bottles in total – carry a combined estimate in the region of €200.000. The Masseto estate will also extend an invitation to the winning bidders to host them at the winery by the end of 2024.

Amayès Aouli, Sotheby’s Head of Wine, Europe, said: “It is a great honour for Sotheby’s to work together with the incredible team at Masseto to offer the very first bottles to be released from the new winery’s Caveau. This auction is small, due to the limited size of production, but perfectly proportioned. It provides collectors with the opportunity to purchase, open and enjoy bottles, from six different vintages, that come solely and directly from the Caveau. Each bottle has been elegantly dressed – providing evidence of the unique Caveau provenance – and comes in a beautiful presentation case which has been handcrafted in Bolgheri. The sale provides a dream scenario for wine lovers: mature vintages of one of the world’s greatest wines, with its own totally unique personality.”

Axel Heinz, Estate Director, said: “It is a fascinating discovery every time we uncork an older vintage of Masseto. Each time we take a sip, we learn something new. How the wines we have brought up with patience and care, evolve. How they change. How each individual vintage expresses its unmistakable Masseto character, but with a slightly different interpretation – just as a masterpiece of music will sound differently according to the artist who plays it. A discovery that gives way to pure emotion in that special moment every wine lover is seeking.”

All the bottles from the Masseto Caveau will be presented in oak cases handcrafted by an artisan in Bolgheri, which are numbered and contain a certificate of origin signed by Axel Heinz, Estate Director. Furthermore, every bottle comes with a Prooftag®, attesting to the wine’s authenticity. This includes the date when the bottle left the Caveau, stated on the front label: April 2023. In addition, Caveau is featured on every capsule as well as on the seals of guarantee that close the wooden cases – a singular confirmation of watertight provenance.

HIGHLIGHTS

Masseto 2010, 1 Nebuchadnezzar, est. €18,000-26,000
Masseto 2000, 1 Imperial, est. €6,000-8,500
Masseto 2001, 1 Imperial, est. €7,500-11,000
Masseto 2006, 1 Imperial, est. €7,000-10,000
Masseto 2010, 1 Imperial, est. €8,000-10,000
Masseto 2011, 1 Imperial, est. €6,500-8,500
Masseto 2016, 1 Imperial, est. €6,000-8,000
Masseto, 1 Double Magnum, in a range of vintages spanning 1996 to 2011, estimates ranging from €2,400 upwards to €5,000
Masseto, 3 Magnum vertical in the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, est. €4,500-6,000 per lot
Six-bottle double offerings of a three-bottle vertical of the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, est. €4,000-5,500 per lot
Individual offerings of a three-bottle vertical of the 2006, 2010 and 2011 vintages, est. €1,800-2,600 per lot

Above : Sea and vineyard view from the Masseto House; and Entrance to the cellar

About Masseto

Masseto is the name for a unique wine, vineyard and estate. The potential of the slope where the vineyard stands on the Tuscan coast was sensed in the early 1980s when the first vines were planted, contrary to all predictions, advice and local tradition. The intuition paid off. The blue clay, cool coastal breezes and excellent refraction of light guaranteed by the Tyrrenian Sea contribute to the intriguing mix of power, elegance and complexity that distinguishes this Tuscan red. Since the 2017 harvest, Masseto has been accompanied by a second wine, Massetino. Both derive from the estate’s philosophy centered on utmost respect for the fruit and minimal intervention in the vineyard.

About Sotheby’s Wine

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits achieved a record total of $158 million in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021. Sotheby’s currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most valuable bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most valuable bottle of spirits ever sold at auction, in addition to the highest ever total for a charity wine auction.

In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.