Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia - Masseto 2020
Masseto is one of the most famous Super-Tuscan wines, made entirely from Merlot by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia . Ornellaia is located in the Bolgheri appellation, Tuscany , Italy . The company was founded in 1981 by Marquis Lodovico Antinori. From 2002 to 2005, the estate was co-owned by Robert Mondavi and Marchesi De Frescobaldi but, since 2005, Frescobaldi has had exclusive ownership. In Ornellaia, the notion of environmental sustainability, understood as the use of the natural fertility of the soil, can be identified in various practices and limited measures implemented in the vineyards, with the aim of promoting the biodiversity of cultivated species. The director of the Masseto estate is Axel Heinz .
In the cellar, minimal intervention is the key word. The extraordinarily concentrated grapes do not need sophisticated winemaking but simple operations. Gentle infusion rather than aggressive extraction, to help express richness without heaviness or roughness. Everything in the winery has been designed with this in mind - gentle transfer of the grapes without any pumps, taking advantage of natural gravity flow, and tanks designed to promote efficient maceration without the need for aggressive extraction. The wines are aged in small French oak barrels . Masseto easily tolerates new oak and finds its perfect balance after 24 months of aging but if these parameters have become the norm, the team has not refrained from shortening the stay in barrel or lowering the quantity of new barrel when the vintage demanded it.
Grape variety: 100% Merlot
