Masseto and Ornellaia

In 1981, when Lodovico Antinori founded in Bolgheri (Bolgheri) his estate in the lands he had received from his mother, he was sure that would produce quality wine in the Bordeaux style. The heir of an illustrious winemaking family did not know that on the path that will lead him to the creation of two of the greatest names of Italian winemaking: ‘ornellaia (Ornellaia) and Masseto (Masseto)

How many Italian investors and wine producers of the time, Antinori rushed on the land around the small village of Bolgheri – a long time considered to be useless swamps – impressed by the success of Sassicaia (Sassicaia) – super-successful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet franc created by the Marquis Mario Incisa della Rocchetta (Mario Incisa della Rocchetta).

Sassicaia is not just gained international recognition, is the wine and lit the spark of the Italian wine revolution. Made from international varieties using “unorthodox” techniques of winemaking, such as reduced productivity and aging in barriques – Sassicaia shook up a stagnating wine industry. Then, in the early 1980s, in his way stood an outdated wine regulations restricting the use of varieties and technologies of winemaking. Antinori was part of the first wave of investors rushed in after Bolgheri Sassicaia, and his guilt gave impetus to the transformation of the Tuscan coast – Maremma – the “Golden coast”.

Before the advent of Antinori, the site was planted with olive trees and other crops, he did not hesitate, uprooted, along with several rows of remaining there vines. Antinori was convinced that the combination of warm temperatures, sea breezes and mixed soils (calcium, clay, Sandstone) will bring his new project a success comparable to the one he achieved in California.

A devoted fan of California wines, especially Cabernet from NAPA, Antinori hired as its first consultant, the famous oenologist with Russian roots – Andrew Chelishchev (André Tchelistcheff), the father of California Cabernet.
Under the guidance of the renowned Antinori carefully selected plots of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet franc and a small amount of Petit Verdot, which in different proportions were a blend of the farm’s Ornellaia (Ornellaia).

The debut vintage of Ornellaia 1985 received wide recognition in Italy and in the world, and almost 30 years later, it remains a favorite of critics and consumers.

“Ornelia is the essence of Bolgheri and its terroir,” says Leonardo Raspini (Leonardo Raspini), General Manager and agronomist Ornellaia 2001. “Ornelia proves the incredible favor of the terroir of Bolgheri to Bordeaux blends that have made this region world famous”.

The grapes for Ornellaia are harvested and selected by hand on a double sorting table. Berries of different varieties and from different parts beneficiries separately, and then aged 12 months in barriques, of which 70% is new and 30% pre one-time use. After that, the wine assemblynode and go to dovyderzhka in barriques for another 6 months.

Thanks to a combination of well ripened grapes, the intricacies and structure of Ornelia quickly won a place among the recognized “super-Tuscans” – the rebellious wines that do not fit the requirements at that time by law to produce “quality wines”. Now it is a separate DOC Bolgheri Superiore, but the true guarantee of the quality is still the name on the Ornellaia label, not Denominazione di Origine Controllata.

In the early 1980s blend Bolgheri, which was dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, was the criterion of belonging to the top wines of the region. But andré immediately fell in love with a plot of 7 hectares, which, according to him, was printing “fantastic Merlot.”

There are legends about how andré was literally hugging the slopes, absorbing vibration Merlot. But today’s winemaker of the economy, Axel Hines, claims that the enologist veteran was much more calm and balanced. “André pointed to the hill, consisting mainly of dense gray clay, which is located beyond the boundaries of the original territory Ornellaia, and persuaded Lodovico Antinori that this territory is ideal for Merlot,” he recalls. The grapes from these slopes is used in the production of the famous wine farms – Masseto (Masseto).

“The soul and essence of Masseto comes from dense clay layers of the Central part of the hill, and its more sandy and rocky top – source of elegance,” says Hines. “Clay and sand at the foot also help to smooth tannic structure Masseto”.

The name “Masseto” comes from the Italian word “massi”, which means “large stones”, as a reference to hard clods of gray clay formed in the soil. Clay this is so valuable that the noble family della Gherardesca (Gherardesca) agreed on the delivery of Masseto for the production of bricks during the restoration of the castle of Bolgheri in 1800. Long-abandoned house of the captain career is still located on top of a hill. And the place where previously housed the dryers and kilns, is now a neat winery, built in 1987.

Believing in Providence is renowned Antinori bought the hill of Masseto planted at that time, olive trees, and planted Merlot there. In 1986 there was released a small amount of Merlot di Ornellaia, and in 1987 took place the official debut of Masseto. Like his sister, Ornellaia, Masseto was waiting for rapid success.

“While Ornellaia is a reflection of the character of Bolgheri in its Bordeaux blends, Masseto is the expression of a single vineyard, one of the employed variety,” says Raspini.

Pliocene clay-rich soil unique to Bolgheri, and – as predicted by andré – ideal for Merlot. Without a doubt one of the best Merlot in the world, Masseto is known for its complexity and unique blend of lively fruit with a rich tannin structure.

On average, the farm produces 35,000 bottles of Masseto in the year, and its rarity is another reason for the success at auctions.
Since 1991, the economy advises French oenologist Michel Rolland (Michel Rolland), who replaced veteran Chelysheva, who died in 1994.

In 2012 Ornellaia Tenuta (Tenuta Dell’ornellaia) changed his name to “Ornellaia and Masseto” (Ornellaia e Masseto), which better reflects the fact that farm owned by two great wines. It was another step in the evolution of the economy, which began in 1999, when Lodovico Antinori sold a minority stake of Ornelia Robert Mondavi. Three years later the company Mondavi bought the remaining shares and immediately sold half of the Frescobaldi family.

After the decline of the Empire Mondavi, Frescobaldi bought the remaining part in 2005, becoming the sole owners of Ornellaia e Masseto. To the credit of the Frescobaldi, they ran the company as an independent structure, allowing Ornellaia e Masseto to be yourself and maintain your individuality.

Source: wine-searcher.com