Masseto 1997 Ornellaia e Masseto

Der Masseto ist ein Supertoskaner des Weinguts Ornellaia e Masseto und stammt aus dem gleichnamigen, circa 7 Hektar großen, Weinberg Masseto in der DOC Bolgheri. Die Geschichte des Weins begann 1986, damals noch unter dem Namen Merlot dell'Ornellaia. Im, zu diesem Zeitpunkt, noch nicht existenten Weinberg Masseto wurde Merlot gepflanzt, der eigentlich für die Produktion des Ornellaia, das Aushängeschild des Weinguts, verwendet werden sollte. Die herausragende Qualität der Trauben wurde erkannt und man entschied sich dazu den Merlot als eigenständigen Wein zu füllen. Das war der Anfang einer Erfolgsgeschichte, denn heute gehört der Masseto zu den gefragtesten italienischen Rotweinen weltweit. Knapp 30.000 Flaschen produziert das Weingut jährlichen. Lange Zeit wurde der Masseto im gleichen Keller wie der Ornellaia vinifiziert. Seit April 2019 wurden die beiden Weine offiziell voneinander getrennt und Masseto ist inzwischen als eigenes Weingut zu sehen. Bei der Vinifikation gilt die Devise so wenig Einfluss auf den Wein wie möglich zu nehmen. Vielmehr wird versucht, die natürliche Entwicklung des Weins zu fördern. In seiner Erscheinung besticht der Masseto durch sein beeindruckendes Zusammenspiel aus Eleganz, Frische und Kraft. Schon fast seidig erscheinend, zeigt der Masseto ein Bouquet von Kirsche und Cassis, mit floralen Anklängen. Reife Frucht, ein dezent erdiges Aroma und feines Tannin harmonieren perfekt und verleihen dem Wein Spannung. Der Masseto ist ein Wein von beeindruckender Güte und wird aufgrund seiner Rarität gerne als der Pétrus Italiens bezeichnet.

Alcohol		15.0%
Vintage		1997
Volume		0.75l
Winery		Ornellaia e Masseto
Rebsorte		Merlot
Vineyard		Masseto
City		Bolgheri
Region		Toskana
Country		Italien
Stored		20.06.2022

825.00 € / Bottle

1,100.00 € / Liter

1 bottles available

The vineyard Masseto

Location and landscape

Masseto lies on the Masseto hill in the hills of Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. The vineyard looks out over the Tyrrhenian Sea and is assigned to the town of Castagneto Carducci in Italy. The sheltered location in the Bolgheri hills combines with maritime conditions: damp sea breezes soften ripening and help, while during dry periods they preserve the acidity.

Soil and grape varieties

The vineyard stands on blue clay, which was formed from an ancient seabed and is described by the estate as Pliocene clay with marine fossils. Seismic deformation revealed the geological layers; the clay occurs in hard, stone-like accumulations known as the Massi, from which the vineyard and the wine take their name.

In 1986, a new Merlot vineyard was laid out on the clay of the Masseto hill. Merlot is the most important documented grape variety; in more recent documented vintages, Cabernet Franc is also harvested from the vineyard.

Cultivation and harvest

The individual plots are observed in detail and farmed according to their respective ripening conditions. The documented harvests are carried out by hand, with the harvest dates for the individual plots set separately.

The making of the wine

From the first fruit of the newly planted vineyard, an experimental Merlot bottling was produced in 1986. The first official release under the name Masseto followed in 1987. Masseto is documented as Toscana IGT and, according to the estate, combines intense power with silky elegance, which is linked to the blue clay and the maritime location.

About the winery

Location and climate

Ornellaia and Masseto are located in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast in Tuscany, Italy, with views over the Tyrrhenian Sea. The nearby sea and the coastal winds shape the Mediterranean maritime climate.

Vineyard sites and soils

The Ornellaia vineyards stretch from the coast towards the hills and are predominantly oriented to the south-west. Their soils have marine, alluvial and volcanic origins and contain, among other things, sand, marl, marine fossils, clay and limestone pebbles.

The Masseto vineyard lies on a west-facing slope in the hills of Bolgheri. Characteristic is Pliocene blue clay, beneath which are calcareous-clay soils.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The Ornellaia vineyards are divided into many small plots and are farmed individually. The main red grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, followed by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. For the white wines, Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng, Viognier, Verdicchio and Vermentino are used.

Masseto was created from a Merlot vineyard on the clay-rich slope. In plots and associated wines, Cabernet Franc is also documented. A strict grape selection and plot-based cultivation take account of the different characteristics of the sites.

Wines, history and maturation

Ornellaia is classified as Bolgheri DOC Superiore Rosso and is blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The individual grape varieties and vineyard locations are vinified separately; maturation includes, depending on the wine, fermentation in steel or wooden vessels, ageing in French oak and the subsequent assemblage. Masseto is produced as a red wine from the clay-rich hillside vineyard under the name Toscana IGT.

Ornellaia was founded in 1981; the first wine went on the market in 1985. The first experimental Masseto bottling was produced in 1986, with the first official release following in 1987. The first Massetino vintage was 2017 and was released in 2019; also in 2019, the Masseto winery was completed and inaugurated. It is designed for winemaking using gravity flow, while the construction with blue clay provides natural insulation.