The 2012 La Massa is a real powerhouse. Sweet tobacco, smoke, licorice, game and black stone fruits blast from the glass. Although not especially refined, the 2012 delivers plenty of richness. Today, though, the tannins remain a bit angular and rough around the edges. It will be interesting to see how the 2012 behaves in bottle, and if some of those tannins start to soften.

A fresh, clean red with balsamic and chocolate character, plus fresh cherry. Full body, firm tannins and a juicy finish. Ripe, generous fruit. Always outstanding from here. A polished Super Tuscan. Drink or hold.

Giampaolo Motta’s 2012 La Massa wraps clean around the palate, imparting sassy tones of Mexican spice, tobacco and dark berry fruit. The blend is 60% Sangiovese with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Alicante. The wine shows luscious dark concentration with equal billing to both the dark fruity component of the wine and its spicy, oak-driven spice. There’s a firmness to the tannins that should soften with time. I love that the bottle still shows a roasting chicken on the back label to poke fun at the Gallo Nero Chianti Classico logo. (Monica Larner)