Vajo dei Masi 1999: The Amarone that Defies Time
A historic and exclusive cru, an exceptional vintage, and an innovative technique that preserves freshness after 25 years of aging.
Masi, a leader in the production of Amarone, is proud to present the Vajo dei Masi, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC, vintage 1999, one of the finest of the last few decades. Vajo dei Masi, a prized cru rooted in the history and excellence of Valpolicella Classica, is the legendary vineyard planted by the Boscaini family in 1772. It gave its name to a historic agricultural estate, an internationally renowned brand, and the current company, Masi Agricola. In 1997, 2,500 magnums were produced from its grapes to celebrate the family’s 250th vintage in 2022.
Following the success of the 1997 vintage, the 1999 is now being offered, also the result of an original production method designed to preserve its freshness over the years. Corvina, Rondinella, Corvinone, and Molinara grapes, carefully selected, were dried on bamboo racks until the beginning of February of the following year. After that, the grapes were crushed, and fermentation took place in steel tanks, followed by maturation in new French oak barrels of 600 liters, from June 6, 2000, to October 15, 2003. However, the true secret of this Amarone lies in the preservation technique that has “stopped time”: after aging in wood, the wine was stored in steel tanks under nitrogen saturation until bottling in January 2024. Today, the wine offers a unique and surprising vitality, even after a quarter of a century.
Sandro Boscaini, President of Masi and known as ‘Mister Amarone’, states: “The aim of myself and our Technical Group in creating Vajo dei Masi was to introduce another new, authentic Amarone, a rare and extremely precious gem to add to the range of crus and great reserves for which Masi is recognized worldwide. A wine that embodies the spirit of Valpolicella Classica, celebrating the harmonious combination of tradition, passion, and innovation. With this wine, Masi continues to write the history of Amarone and reaffirms its ongoing commitment to creating wines of the highest caliber.”
The 1999 vintage is produced in numbered bottles: 1,600 of 750 ml and 200 magnums.
Vajo dei Masi 1999 is available for purchase on Enoteca Masi.