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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Masseto was born ‘almost by chance’ in 1986 when it was decided to vinify the Merlot from the Masseto vineyard alone as it ‘promised well’. This small, exceptional and legendary cru has soon become a collector’s item sold in auctions all over the world. The first vintage was called very simply ‘Merlot’ but, from 1987, it has taken on the name of its vineyard ‘Masseto’.
The Masseto vineyard is a unique place. Blessed with the generosity of a Mediterranean climate, this small vineyard enjoys breath-taking views, which stretch to the Tuscan coast, and a mosaic of different soils including an exceptional presence of grey clay. The gentle breezes coming off the sea during the war summer months, the intensity of the sunlight and the specificity of the unique soils, allow the vines to develop and ripen gradually and contribute to granting Masseto its enchanting combination of freshness and ripeness.
The wine is the synthesis of its singular 7 hectare vineyard formed of three types of soil. At the top of the hill, at around 120 metres above sea level, the loosest ground is made up of clay and sand with numerous pebbles and, this contributes to the elegant nature of the wine. In the sloping part of the vineyard (with about a 10% gradient), grey clay predominates and gives the wine its structural backbone. Lastly, the lower rows grow on less clayey soil which lends the wine its fullness, warmth and generosity.
The bunches, hand harvested in 15kg crates, were carefully sorted by hand on a double sorting table before and after destemming and then subjected to a gentle crushing. Six different lots were vinified separately. Fermentation took place in both steel and wood tanks, followed by 15-20 days maceration at a temperature between 25 and 30° C. Afterwards, malolactic fermentation took place in 100% new oak barrique, and the different lots were kept separate for the first 12 months of maturation. The wine was then blended and reintroduced into the barrels for another year, making a total of 24 months. After bottling, the wine was aged for an additional 12 months prior to release.
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia makes outstanding wines even in poor vintages - better than any other. In the capable hands of winemaker Thomas Duroux and consultant Michel Rolland, the estate continues its long-standing, stellar record of world-class wine production. Even the estate's "second" wines demonstrate high quality grape growing and flawless production methods. Located in Tuscany's tiny coastal DOC of Bolgheri, the estate was one of the first to plant vines in the area. With producers like Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, Antinori, Grattamacco, and Le Macchiole among others, Bolgheri is the hotbed of winemaking momentum in Toscana.
With the same name as the winery, a reference to the grove of flowering ash trees surrounding it, Ornellaia is the estate's principal wine. The 63 acres of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with small plantings of Cabernet Franc vines, lie on elevated parcels composed of clay, gravel, and loam soils. The clones of diverse origins yield a rich palette of nuances. All grapes are destemmed, gently pressed, and introduced into either wooden or stainless steel fermentation vessels. Maceration takes place over a period of 25-32 days at a temperature not exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, during which time the wine completes its alcoholic fermentation. The juice remains unblended until the wines have spent approximately one year in small French barriques. The final cuvee is assembled to evoke the vinous finess of the Cabernet highlighted by ripe, aromatic notes of Merlot in an elegant yet firm style balancing fruit, acidity, oak, and tannic backbone.
The estate's Le Volte is a blend of Tuscan Sangiovese with Bordeaux's Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that can be considered a "Young Ornellaia." They also produce Le Serre Nuove, the "second Ornellaia," and Masseto, one Bolgheri's greatest wines!
Wine Information
Climate and Harvest 1987
The 1987 vintage was characterised by a generally good growing season. Temperatures during the month of July were very hot, followed by some rainfall during the month of August. The harvest of the Merlot was carried out on the 13th September 1987.
The grapes were all hand-picked and conveyed immediately to the cellars in baskets containing max 15 kg
Vinification and Ageing
Merlot
The grapes were fermented in tanks and maceration lasted for 13 days. Malolactic fermentation took place as soon as the wine had completed its alcoholic fermentation.
The wine spent a period in french oak barriques from January 1988 until May 1989 (16 months) followed by bottling and a further 24 month period in the bottle before release.
Winemaker’s Notes
This was the first vintage to bear the now famous Masseto front label. The vintage was mid-quality, with the wine now at term, ready to drink, but with no particular urgency.
Tasted September 2011
Vuosikerta 1987
Italy Vintage report by Tb: 1987 was an agricultural campaign which produced average wines, rather short-lived. After a cold winter, a dry and raw spring slowly brought the vineyards to life. The entire summer and fall were fairly cool and dry, producing an average but quality harvest. In Tuscany, the flowering phase took place in magnificent weather until the rains at harvest time spoiled what was shaping up to be an excellent year. In Montalcino, ripe grapes were harvested before the rains, resulting in an abundant harvest of exceptional quality.
However, the wines are currently at their best and will not gain further ground in bottle maturation. The surprise of the year was the Castello di Ama L’Apparita Merlot 1987, where it placed first in a Swiss Merlot competition in 1992. The Château Petrus 1988 placed second.
