The Cheese Shop of Salem

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Cosimo Maria Masini

Free tasting | Friday, May 24, 2019 | 5-7PM


2018 Cosimo Maria Masini ‘Matilde’ Rosato

A few months ago a tall, charming guy with a thick Italian accent and curly hair came into the shop; Susan and I didn’t even need to ask if he was a winemaker – just one look at his hands and his profession was revealed. Winemakers’ hands are always super distinctive. Just picture the most callused and strongest hands and boom! It’s a winemaker. Not to mention, whenever you run into a winemaker around harvest their hands are stained with grapes and always smell slightly like fermenting grape juice.

Winemaker Francesco De Filippis doesn’t just look like a winemaker. His wines, from Cosimo Maria Masini winery in Tuscany, strut their stuff with elegance and structure. The Masini family owns 40 hectares on the hillsides of San Miniato in Tuscany where they have been farming using biodynamic practices since 2000. Everything, from the skin contact whites to the extroverted red blends, is harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts. 

If you’re curious about Francesco’s wines definitely don’t miss this tasting! The Masini wines are approachable and all pair brilliantly with food – try Matilde with the cheese Simply Sheep from Nettle Meadow! But once you try these wines you’ll be hopping on a plane to Tuscany to check out the wine, gather truffles, and taste olive oil that the Masini family offers. Don’t worry, you can find the Masini family on WWOOF Italy for harvest!

Cheers,

Molly


2017 Cosimo Maria Masini ‘Daphné

Who: The Masini Family

What: 80% Trebbiano and 20% Malvasia Bianca

Where: Tuscany, Italy

How: The grapes are fermented on their skins for 5 days before maturing for 10 months in barrique.

Farming Method: Biodynamic 

Fun Fact: You can find truffles close to the Masini vineyards; truffles grow near the roots of trees and ‘truffle hunters’ train dogs to find them. If you’re curious if you like truffles try our truffle enriched cheeses, Moliterno di Tartufo and Truffle Raclette, that we have in our cheese case right now!

What It Tastes Like: Smooth luscious tannins with notes of coriander, pepper, and peach.


2018 Cosimo Maria Masini ‘Sincero’

Who: The Masini Family

What: 85% Sangiovese, 10%  Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc

Where: Tuscany, Italy

How: This was fermented for 20 days with indigenous yeasts before being aged in a combination of oak and cement tanks for 6 months.

Farming Method: Biodynamic

Fun Fact: Sangiovese, that grape that is forever linked with Tuscany, actually originated in Southern Italy.

What It Tastes Like: Gulpable and extroverted black cherry and herby notes.


2018 Cosimo Maria Masini ‘Matilde’ Rosato 

Who: The Masini Family

What: 90% Sangiovese and 10% San Forte – Rosé from Tuscany!

Where: Tuscany, Italy

How: It was aged in stainless steel for 4 months.

Farming Method: Biodynamic

Fun Fact: 68% (ish) of Tuscany is made up of hillsides.

What It Tastes Like: Spice, spice, baby…with a grippy minerality and notes of raspberry