Tenuta Dell'Ornellaia Masseto 2006

Drank at dinner in Tokyo, September 2009, with a Sardinian lamb and chestnut stew, and a cheese plate. The Masseto, which we had second after an excellent Chianti earlier in the meal, was my first experience with the wine. A truly, massively rich and deep merlot, with lots of oak showing. Tuscany does the Right Bank, in spades. Just in process of being released to market. Still has a greenish aspect. Wildflowers, licorice, cherries, hints of leather, rubber, earth and mint. Great balance, clarity, long finish but the oak needs more time to integrate. Very ripe, though with an acidity high enough read more...to counterbalance. I have a lot more I could say about this eye-opening wine, and was most glad to make its acquaintance, but personally would prefer to drink it after it had considerably more age. When I buy some of it (after a careful search for the cheapest, most reliable vendor, since it is very pricey), I fully intend to discipline myself to let it lay for five, ten, fifteen years or more. A very different statement from the winery than their Ornellaia cab blend, which I've had several times before.    (hide)

• Tags:
• ripe fruit
• high acidity
• lamb and chestnuts
• big merlot
• wine for laying down
• superb balance
• long finish
• black cherries
• Right Bank Tuscan
• licorice
• wildflowers

September 2009