IGT Toscane Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia Masseto Frescobaldi 1997 (Red)

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is a 91-hectare domaine (76 hectares of which are currently cultivated) created in 1981 by Marquis Lodovico Antinori, and is planted with typical Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot). In 2002, it was sold to the Californian group Robert Mondavi Winery, then in June of that year 50% was sold to Marchesi de Frescobaldi, a Tuscan wine-producing family. Marchesi de Frescobaldi became the sole proprietor in 2005. In a very short time, the premium domaine has risen to the top tier of the rankings. The vines are planted on the coastal strip of Tuscany and have produced some of the very finest crus (Masseto, Ornellaia, Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia – Ornellaia’s second wine – and Le Volte. Every effort is made here to produce the best wines on the planet: rigorous vine management, manual harvesting in crates, and vinification supervised by leading oenologists. Ornellaia (DOC Superiore) is barrel-aged for 18 months. The Bolgheri terroir has created a refined and elegant red wine; Ornellaia is complex yet suave and structured.

Sought after by connoisseurs the world over, Masseto is an exceptional cuvée produced by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. The Masseto terroir covers seven hectares planted exclusively with Merlot. In the 1980s, Russian-American oenologist André Tchelistcheff identified the exceptional potential of this 120-metre-high hill. The terroir benefits both from the Mediterranean sun in the summer and temperatures that are not too low in the winter. Its cool soil protects it against drought, enabling the grapes to ripen gradually. An ideal climate and soil in which to produce a 100% Merlot wine. The top of the hill, known as "Masseto Alto", is home to clay-rich soil. The central area of the vineyard, known as "Masseto Centrale", forms the backbone of this exceptional cuvée. The production of Masseto is a long, painstaking task. Each grape is selected by hand; oak barrels bought from France are chosen for their refinement, ensuring they will do their utmost to improve the wine's quality. After one year's ageing, the producer then makes the delicate choices associated with blending. The philosophy is to bring out both the wine's superb personality and the character of the individual year. The wine is then returned to barrels for another year, where it will vinify in utter tranquillity.

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