Massetino 2019

In recent years, Masseto has acquired an increasingly independent appearance from the Ornellaia estate and to reaffirm the operational independence of Masseto, a second vin called Massetino was created. Massetino is therefore the wine obtained with Merlot grapes that are not used for great wine and as happens in Bordeaux, in Pomerol, it is integrated with Cabernet franc. The Merlot in the Ornellaia estate is grown on a strip of blue Pliocene clay, not very different from that of the Pomerol, and gives extraordinary results. Cabernet franc compared to Cabernet sauvignon is gentler and more refined and is an ideal complementary to Merlot, as it completes it but does not overpower it. The first vintage of Massetino wine was 2017, released in 2019, the same year as the inauguration of the new winery. Massetino inaugurates a new era for the great Supertuscan of the Ornellaia estate, now in the hands of the Frescobaldis.

The harvest for Massetino takes place separately, parcel by parcel, starting from the youngest vines. After a careful selection, the best grapes, perfectly healthy and ripe, fell into the fermentation vat by gravity, without the use of pumps. Fermentation took place in conical-shaped cement vats with a maceration of 4 weeks and delicate operations to keep the pomace wet and extract only the noblest tannins. “Saigné” tecnique was practiced to further concentrate the wine. Subsequently, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrique and was aged for a total of 15 months in barriques, 50% new.