“Masseto” Toscana IGT 2023 · 3 bottles in OWC

Tenuta dell' Ornellaia | Tuscany
Ornellaia S.r.l. | Loc. Ornellaia 191 | IT 57022 Castagneto Carducci

09284523 · 2,25 l · 1.269,78 €/l · Price (DE) incl. VAT, excl. Shipping4 units available
Limitation of 1 articles per customer

Standing on the hill, one looks out over the Tyrrhenian Sea, and if one digs into the ground, one finds it again: blue clay from the seabed of the Pliocene era, rich in minerals and fossils, hard as rock and yet strangely fragile. The estate takes its name from this rock. Geological movements pushed the clay upwards; nature was the first creator, and humans came later. A few men of different backgrounds looked beyond the local customs, against all odds and against all advice, and in the 1980s the famous Oenologist André Tchelistcheff recognised the clay of this hill as the ideal soil for Merlot. Since 1986, Masseto has been produced here, from a single vineyard, barren and dry, with no room for compromise. The cellar lies within the hill, almost invisible from the outside; the architects called it the "quarry"; the clay insulates it, gravity takes care of the transport, and it is only a matter of minutes' walk to the vines. Bottles from every vintage since 1986 rest there, each in its own cradle of woven stainless steel.

The 2023 harvest took place from 6 September to 5 October, plot by plot and by hand into 15-kilo crates, following a mild winter and a sunny summer without extremes, with rain at the end of August and cool September nights. The grapes were destemmed, gently crushed, fed by gravity into the fermentation vats and fermented separately. The wine was then aged for 24 months in barriques.

A rich, luminous ruby red. On the nose, dark, juicy fruit, black pepper, tobacco and graphite, along with something that doesn't reveal itself straight away. On the palate, it offers substance and tension: smooth tannins, lively acidity, a juicy, full body – elegant and captivating – with a long, hearty finish. A terroir that leaves no room for compromise, a winery that intervenes as little as possible: in between lies this world-famous Merlot, deep and fresh at the same time. SUPERIORE.DE

"A brilliant ruby red with a gleaming centre. On the nose, it offers aromas of cedarwood, candle wax, blackcurrant and blackberries, along with a subtle balsamic note; complex and inviting. Enormously smooth on the palate, with velvety tannins that envelop the clear and pronounced fruit; it unfolds in several layers – a great wine." Falstaff

"The 2023 Masseto, a 100% Merlot, is a young wine that still needs time to develop. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, chocolate, fresh leather, liquorice and a hint of French oak dance across the palate. I find the tannins somewhat coarse-grained compared to most vintages. This is a transitional vintage for Masseto. The oak character very clearly points to a vintage that has slightly less structure than the top vintages. I am very keen to see how the 2023 develops in the bottle. It was aged for 24 months in French oak, 70% of which was in new barrels." Vinous

"Masseto 2023 is a silky, flowing wine full of aromatic detail: red and black berries, dark cherries, and a balsam note too. "I love the nose of this Masseto, it's expressive, incredible complexity," remarks production director Marco Balsimelli. The aromatics draw you in, but it's in the mouth that it makes a lasting impression. Ferrous and sapid, with a mouthwatering juiciness to the fruit, it's an energetic bundle of pure Merlot displaying precise tannic structure and superb balance. Sea spray and Mediterranean herbs outline the core, while notes of citrus peel, coffee, liquorice, cola and spices emerge on the complex finish." Decanter

"An intense, dark and full-bodied wine with lively elegance, characterised by balsamic notes, cloves and a hint of flowers, complemented by a blend of plums and blackcurrants, as well as a mineral, graphite note on the finish. The attack captivates with its smoothness and silky texture, featuring elegant tannins, a graceful, brilliant acidity and toasted notes of cocoa milk, sweet tobacco and fruit. An endless finish. Best enjoyed in two to three years' time, though it is already drinkable now." James Suckling