x
  • Country ranking ?

    150
  • Producer ranking ?

    30
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2040
  • Food Pairing

    roast veal with chanterelles

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

While ’05 was a challenging vintage in Bolgheri, this Masseto stands as a master class in winemaking. Elegant, finessed, nearly balletic in its grace, the ’05 Masseto glides across the palate with silkiness, offering pure Merlot fruit layered over espresso, milk chocolate, fresh-cut flowers, balsamic, and licorice. Despite having debuted only in the 1986 vintage, Masseto encroaches upon the epic mystique of the storied Château Pétrus.

 

...

Close

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...

Close

Wine Information

Masseto – Tenuta dell´Ornellaia

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is situated on the Via Bolgherese in that triangle between the sea, the medieval hamlet of Bolgheri and the town of Castagneto Carducci and, to get there, one travels up part of the historic ‘cypress avenue’ celebrated by the poet Giosuè Carducci. The property comprises 97 hectares planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
Since the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia’s ...

Close

Tasting note

Be the first one to make a 20s tasting note!

Written Notes

Tasted next to the 2002, the 2005 Masseto is perhaps a bit edgier, with an extra kick of tannic intensity that gives the wine its sense of direction and a good kick of energy too. I very much admire the tension in the 2005, a wine built on freshness, aromatic depth and mid-weight structure. Cool, rainy weather towards the end of the season resulted in a late harvest that took place between September 14 and 30.

  • 95p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Bolgheri, Tuscany

Other wines from this producer

La Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia

Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia

Le Volte dell'Ornellaia

Le Volte dell’Ornellaia

Massetino

Ornellaia

Ornellaia Bianco

Ornus dell’Ornellaia

Poggio alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia

Inside Information

However, since its debut in 1986, with increasingly deserved renown built through vintages in the 1990s and cemented by many future legends created in the 2000s and early 2010s, there is another truly world-class merlot – but this one comes from Italy.

 

Masseto is a paragon of wine making, found on the Hill of Masseto, which is about 120 metres above sea level.  Again like Petrus its clay terroir allows the soil to absorb and store water, aided further by the cool sea breeze keeping the terrain perennially cool. This allows the grapes to grow steadily, without stress, ripening fully under the warm Tuscan sun, thus ideal harmony of sugar and polyphenol ripeness.

Its parallels with Petrus continue as the estate mimics Petrus’ low yields, its 6 hectares producing a maximum of 2,000 cases a year. It is – for all intense and purposes – Petrus grown under the Tuscan sun.

Read more
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 
Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register