Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto 2022 Merlot

VERY RARE. VERY LIMITED
Masseto is a legendary Italian estate, globally celebrated for crafting a monumental, single-varietal Merlot. The name itself is a tribute to its terroir, a word derived from the clusters of "massi" (rock-hard blue clay) that form on the vineyard's surface. Located in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, the estate benefits from a unique blend of marine, alluvial, and volcanic soils. Masseto’s philosophy of uncompromising quality is driven by an obsession with a single vineyard, with every detail in the vineyard and cellar focused on preserving and enhancing the nuances of the land.

The 2022 vintage was a tale of challenge and resilience. After a hot, dry summer lasting 75 days, characteristic summer storms in August restored the physiological balance of the vines, and cool September nights were ideal for the accumulation of sugars, aromas, and tannins. This resulted in concentrated, powerful grapes with a unique personality.

The 2022 Masseto pours a vibrant, bright red, expressing an immediate concentration of small red fruits. The palate is rich and luscious, with a seductive flavor. The wine is naturally powerful, with firm yet elegant tannins, finding a perfect balance between strength and finesse that always defines its style. This wine is a liquid kaleidoscope, a tribute to its rugged force, its softness, and the debt it owes to the soil from which it rises.

Jeb Dunnuck rated this wine 98+ Points, saying: "This vintage of the 2022 Masseto is 100% Merlot. The nose is pronounced, leading with its mineral aromas of crushed dark stones. It smells like dissolved minerals, delicate peppery accents, black plum, red apples, lavender perfume, and sage. The aromatics are quite profound in this vintage, and on the palate, it’s full-bodied and more structured, with ripe tannins and a good deal of depth and richness, with the minerality shining through. Long on the palate, it’s generous all the way through, and while it feels approachable upfront, more structure comes through on the finish. Allow it some time in cellar and drink 2028-2058."