When we talk about Ornellaia, we’re talking about wine, history, tradition and passion. Founded in 1981 by the Marchese Lodovico Antinori, the winery subsequently became part of the Frescobaldi group, which has been a leader in quality Italian oenology for over 700 years. In a plot of the same name, situated in a small and wild part of Tuscany, there is an estate that’s perfect for Bordeaux blends. Tenuta Masseto is a magical place, surrounded by woods and influenced by the sea breeze on hot summer days. The land is blessed by the presence of a deep marine substrate which gradually created blue clay. This is reflected in the intense power and silky elegance found in Masseto wines, as well as in its younger sibling, Massetino. The Masseto cellar is the very symbol of this winery, as its wall of enormous rocks marks the boundary of the estate. Designed by architects Hiraku and Zito, the building expresses and reinforces Masseto's concrete and powerful identity. We try to minimise intervention in the estate as much as possible. The goal is to precisely capture the true spirit of nature and manifest it to its highest level. The extraordinary vineyard uses tanks and barrels with a gravity-flow winemaking system. A second wine, Massetino, was born from the selection made for Masseto. We harvest the Merlot and Cabernet Franc bunches by hand, using 15 kg crates. After destemming and a light crushing, the grapes are transferred to concrete tanks by gravity. No pumping is required. Each single vineyard plot is vinified separately. Fermentation takes place spontaneously, using indigenous yeast, at a constant temperature between 25 and 28°C, with two or three pumping interventions over a day, and délestage where necessary. Time spent in the tanks varies from 21 to 25 days. A malolactic fermentation follows, using 50% new and 50% used barriques. After 12 months of ageing, the wine is blended and reintroduced into barriques, resting for another 3 months before bottling. In the glass, it has a deep purple colour, ready to reveal its strong identity. The notes of ripe cherry and underbrush perceived on the nose are complemented by an experience of crisp freshness on the palate. With a perfect combination of power and a full flavour finish, Massetino perfectly embodies the typical features of this vintage. It is a great wine that achieves even greater expressiveness if left to age for a longer time. A perfect wine for sipping leisurely.
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