Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia - Masseto 2012
In Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast, Masseto holds a unique position among the great Italian wines made from a single grape variety. Its vineyard of about seven hectares stretches over a hill where particularly compact blue clays emerge, capable of retaining water and naturally regulating the vine's supply. The Merlot develops a very different expression here compared to lighter soils, with more depth, density, and a remarkable tannic structure. The vineyard is divided into several sectors whose soil and exposure characteristics are monitored separately until the final blend. This parcel-based approach allows combining power, finesse, and freshness in a wine that goes far beyond simple varietal expression. Long linked to Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Masseto has gradually established itself as an autonomous entity and one of the major references of contemporary Tuscany. The 2012 vintage fully reflects this identity in a warm year, where the clay's water reserve played an essential role in maintaining balance.
Masseto 2012 is made exclusively from Merlot. The different parcels are harvested and vinified separately to adapt each intervention to their level of maturity and personality. The sunny character of the vintage gives the wine significant concentration and a particularly generous expression of black fruit, but the clay nature of the terroir preserves an essential freshness for its balance. Fermentations are conducted precisely to progressively build the matter without excessive extraction. Aging in French oak barrels then accompanies the wine for an extended period before the final blend continues its refinement. This maturation allows the wood, tannins, and the natural richness of Merlot to gradually integrate into a more homogeneous texture. After more than ten years in bottle, the 2012 begins to offer a complex and softened expression while retaining significant aging potential.
The color remains a very deep garnet, with still remarkable visual density. The bouquet combines blackberry, black plum, and ripe cherry with nuances of violet, cocoa, and licorice. Aeration gradually reveals tobacco, sweet spices, cedar, and a balsamic dimension that brings freshness to the fruity register. The palate is ample, fleshy, and deeply velvety, but a fine tannic frame maintains a precise architecture despite the vintage's richness. Notes of black fruits, bitter chocolate, and spices gradually stretch toward a more earthy and mineral dimension. The finish is long and persistent, with a remarkable balance between maturity, power, and freshness. Masseto 2012 will accompany a beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, roasted pigeon, a rack of lamb, game birds, or a refined preparation around black truffle.
Grape variety: 100% Merlot
