Castello ColleMassari

Brand Description

ColleMassari is the most important and largest estate in the Montecucco appellation. The vineyards are located on the Montecucco hill, which gives the appellation its name. The vines on the Montecucco hill are the oldest Sangiovese vines of the DOCG (more than 60 years old).

Although it is a “new” DOCG, wine has been made in Montecucco since the Etruscans in the 8th century. Maria Iris Bertarelli and Claudio Tipa, who purchased the vineyard in 1998 to be the heart of the Montecucco DOC that they envisioned creating, continue this tradition. Montecucco is located between Montalcino and Scansano and benefits from microclimates similar to those of both regions. ColleMassari produced its first vintage in 2000.

Location of Vineyard

The Castello ColleMassari winery is located in Cinigiano in the foothills of Monte Amiata, about 1050ft above sea level. It is about 24 miles to the north-east of Grosseto in the DOC Montecucco, which is famous for its particularly favorable micro-climate. The Castello ColleMassari is not entirely a medieval castle. Its structure is more reminiscent of a fortified hamlet or even a grancia, a type of protected agricultural operation, founded by Cistercian Monks in the 8th century. During this era, they set up an agricultural system between Siena and the Maremma. The term massari, or massaro referred to a representative of an agricultural organization, an important part of which was the farmhouse, located in the center of the area.

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

Integrity, quality and teamwork are the values that are upheld by the Tipa Bertarelli Family.  They apply Italian passion and Swiss precision in crafting wines that represent top quality, history and identity of the region.  The winery practices sustainable and natural methods in full respect of Nature.  Their final pillar and belief is to protect and maintain the identity of Tuscany and its traditions.  While innovating in the vineyard and cellar, their wines always reflect the tradition of the region.

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Winery Profile
Owner: Tipa Bertarelli Family
Winemaker: Luca Marrone
Total acreage under vine: 285
Founded: 1998
Production: 468000
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Acclaim
The 2022 Montecucco Rosso Rigoleto opens with a vivid bouquet of wild strawberries, rhubarb, violets and crshed stones. It’s silken in feel, boasting impressive weight yet wonderful energy as a wave of ripe red and blue  fruits swirl beneath a perfumed air of lavender and spice. A web of fine-grained tannnins lingers as the 2022 finishes with hints of sous-bois complicating notes of hard red candy. — acclaim for 2022 ColleMassari Rigoleto from Vinous, Mar 2025
Sweet floral with a twist of lime to keep the glass in constant motion, the 2023 Vermentino Melacce is a total pleasure. Mineral, intense and full of zesty energy, this opens with a pretty inner sweetness and crisp orchard fruits as juicy acidity tingles and shades of sweet spice and candied citrus add lovely contrast. The 2023 tapers off with a salty flourish and hints of sour melon, leaving the mouth salivating for more. Due to the vintage conditions, the 2023 enjoyed an extended harvest – the result is a wine packed full of complexities. — acclaim for 2023 ColleMassari Melacce from Vinous, Mar 2025
The 2019 Montecucco Sangiovese Riserva Poggio Lombrone opens slowly in the glass. It entices with a whiff of sweet spices and dusty rose before giving way to blackberries and hints of cocoa. This is pure elegance, with streamlined acidity and ripe wild berry fruits that envelop the palate. A web of fine-grained tannins remains, along with a saturation of primary fruits and a tinge of spice. The 2019 tapers off with dramatic length and concentration. This is still a baby and possesses the balance for a long and fruitful evolution. — acclaim for 2019 ColleMassari Poggio Lombrone from Vinous, Mar 2025
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