Masi : Costasera 1980

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Costasera 1980 by Masi

Tasting

Colour
This wine displays an intense colour that takes on garnet hues as it evolves, typical of the great Amarone wines of the Valpolicella Classica.

Nose
The nose offers aromas of candied black and red fruit, led by plum and cherry, alongside notes of dried fruit, sweet spices, cocoa and at times coffee, reflecting the concentration achieved by drying the grapes.

Palate
On the palate, this wine is full-bodied and well-structured, with a dense texture and ripe, velvety tannins. Its warmth is balanced by lovely freshness and a savoury quality characteristic of the Valpolicella Classica terroir. The very long finish lingers on candied fruit, spices and subtle balsamic nuances.

Food and Wine Pairing

Costasera Amarone is an ideal match for roasted or braised red meats, as well as slow-cooked dishes in reduced sauces. It also pairs beautifully with feathered or furred game, whose aromatic intensity echoes the concentration of the wine. Aged hard or blue cheeses likewise find a fine counterpart in its fruity richness. Finally, it can be enjoyed on its own at the end of a meal as a vino da meditazione.

Serving and Cellaring

Costasera 1980 belongs to the category of age-worthy Amarone wines, a style in which the specialist press regularly cites Masi as a benchmark. Its ripe tannic structure and aromatic concentration make it a wine designed to evolve gracefully over time.

The Refinement and Structure of a Red Wine from Veneto by Masi

The Estate

Founded in 1772 in the Vaio dei Masi, in the heart of the Valpolicella Classica in Veneto, the Masi estate has belonged to the Boscaini family since its founding and is now in its eighth generation. Sandro, Bruno and Mario Boscaini each hold 24.5% of the capital of Masi Agricola, ensuring family continuity even though the group has been listed on the AIM market in Milan since 2015. A pioneer of the modern Amarone style, Masi made its mark in 1958 with its first single-vineyard Amarone, followed in 1964 by the creation of Campofiorin. Today, the estate is renowned for its mastery of appassimento and its role as a benchmark in Valpolicella.

The Vineyard

The grapes for this Costasera Amarone della Valpolicella Classico come from the hillsides of the Vaio dei Masi and the "costas", the west-facing slopes of the Valpolicella Classica that enjoy prolonged exposure to the sun. This privileged setting encourages optimal ripening of the indigenous grape varieties grown by Masi, the traditional foundation of its Amarone wines.

Winemaking and Ageing

Costasera 1980 is made from grapes that undergo extended appassimento, a drying technique that concentrates sugars and aromas before vinification. This method, a historic signature of the Masi estate, is followed by extended ageing that brings out the richness and complexity characteristic of the Costasera style.

Grape Varieties

Corvina (70%), Rondinella (20%) and Molinara (10%), the emblematic indigenous grape varieties of Valpolicella.