Tenuta dell'Ornellaia MASSETINO 2021 750ml

Massetino · Toscana · 2021

Massetino 2021 is a Merlot-led Tuscan red with Cabernet Franc, combining rich concentration with silky texture and vibrant structure. Blackberry, black currant, violet and cocoa mingle with espresso, mocha, licorice, cloves and lavender in a layered, elegantly balanced wine.

Wine & Winemaking

The second wine of Masseto, Massetino brings together 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The winemaking notes describe malolactic fermentation in French barriques, 50% new, followed by 12 months of aging. The varieties are then blended and returned to barriques for a further three months before bottling. The winemaker is Gaia Cinnirella.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate, 96 Points · 2021 Vintage
The Masseto 2021 Massetino is mostly Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc for good measure. The wine (packaged in a heavy glass bottle) is very richly concentrated and layered. You see (and taste) the opulent texture of the wine as it slowly coats the glass. Quality fruit is matched by carefully selected oak, and the intensity of both builds on the palate. This vintage is poised for especially long cellar aging. This vintage of Massetino (2021) scores neck-in-neck with the current vintage (2020) of Masseto.

James Suckling, 96 Points · Vintage Not Specified in Review Text
Sweet berries with violet and rose aromas. Raspberries. So perfumed. Medium-bodied with very fine velvety tannins that run the length of the wine. Vibrant at the end. Second wine of Masseto. Best ever. Drink in 2027 but already a joy to taste.

Vinous Media, 94 Points · 2021 Vintage
The 2021 Massetino is a supremely elegant and gracious wine. Silky tannins caress a core of blackberry, espresso, mocha, licorice, cloves and lavender. All the elements are so nicely balanced in this super-appealing, racy second wine from Masseto.

Wine Spectator, 94 Points · Vintage Not Specified in Review Text
Elegant and vibrant, this red flows nicely, building to a long, spice-tinged aftertaste. Boasts blackberry, black currant, violet, cocoa, mineral and fresh herb flavors that ply its length, while lively acidity and powdery tannins provide structure. Focused and approachable now, yet will be better in a year or two. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 through 2033.

Decanter, 93 Points · Vintage Not Specified in Review Text
Dried herbs and dried flowers on the nose with quite dominant oaky scents. Ripe black fruit and abundant tannins, not so rich or fleshy but massy in the mouth, wide, giving a large structure which supports the expression. This is smooth and bright with grip and intensity but you can really feel the alcohol here and it detracts from any kind of delicate nuance with toasted spices, coffee, dark chocolate and cedar at the fore. Heady and overt, powerful, though sleek and layered, the tannins are great and the fruit feels both cool and ripe but there's an underlying sense of heat from start to finish. Malolactic fermentation in French barriques (50% new) then 12 months ageing after which the 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc was blended and returned to barriques for three months before bottling. Winemaker Gaia Cinnirella.

Pairing Suggestions

Try with roast lamb, grilled beef or mushroom dishes to complement the wine's dark fruit, savory notes and layered structure.

Details

• Wine: Massetino, second wine of Masseto
• Vintage: 2021
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Country: Italy
• Region: Tuscany
• Appellation: Toscana
• Grapes: Merlot and Cabernet Franc
• Blend: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
• Type: Red wine
• Aging: 12 months in French barriques, followed by three months after blending
• New oak: 50%