Wine Advisor
Masseto, Masseto 2006
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Description
To open a bottle, is to unleash a liquid kaleidoscope. A rare combination of sumptuous opulence and polished elegance. As a tribute to its rugged force, its softness, and the debt it owes to the soil from which it rises, Masseto was named after the rock-hard clusters of blue clay called ‘massi’ that form on the vineyard’s surface.
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
In my view the 2006 is the greatest Masseto ever made, and the wine certainly lives up to those expectations tonight. It is a marvelously balanced wine with well-articulated aromatics and generous fruit, all supported by powerful yet sophisticated tannins. This is a fabulous showing. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
I can still remember nearly falling out of my chair the first time I tasted the 2006 Masseto (100% Merlot) from barrel. The wine is now in bottle, and it is every bit as monumental as I had hoped. The wine possesses staggering richness in a style that perfectly captures the essence of this great Tuscan vintage. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and sweet toasted oak are just some of the nuances that emerge from the 2006 Masseto. A wine of breathtaking depth, it also reveals superb clarity, freshness and vibrancy in a sumptuous, beautifully-balanced style. Simply put, the 2006 Masseto is a masterpiece from Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia. According to Agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini the dryness of the vintage slowed down the maturation of the sugars, leaving the wine with an unusually high level of acidity, and therefore freshness, considering its overall ripeness. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. This set of new 2006s from Tenuta dell’Ornellaia leaves me looking for words that can adequately capture the pure magic and sheer profoundness the property has achieved in this important, hallmark vintage. I will try with one word: Monumental. The Ornellaia team led by Oenologist Axel Heinz and Agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini has done a fabulous job with these wines, which have never failed to literally send shivers down my spine on the multiple occasions I have tasted them. At this stage the 2007 Serre Nuove, Ornellaia and Masseto are shaping up to be ripe, relatively early-drinking wines without the stuffing or sheer vibrancy of the 2006s. I recently had the privilege of revisiting 17 vintages of Ornellaia (all from magnum) spanning vintages 1985-2006 at an incredible tasting that will be covered in an in-depth article on www.erobertparker.com in the coming months. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700;
Reviewed by: Monica Larner
The wine that most delighted me at this historic tasting of Tuscany's most iconic wines was the 2006 Masseto. This is a wine of sheer power, bliss, opulence, infinity and sublime seduction. This Merlot-based masterpiece hits all your senses with the grace of a ballerina and the power of a heavyweight. It is steady on its proverbial feet, but it also glides over the palate with a profound sense of elegance, harmony and rhythm. Among the prized vintages of Masseto, including 2001, 2004 and 2007, this edition is my favorite. The wine delivers an extra sense of tightness or firmness at the back that serves to stitch together its fleshy richness and general sumptuousness. The personality is sunny, expansive, articulate and sophisticated. You'll remember that the 2006 vintage is celebrated for the elegance of its wines. In the coastal Bolgheri appellation, it is also remembered for the power of its wines. You get the best of both worlds with this stunning creation: elegance and power. These traits are particularly well suited to the versatile grape variety at the heart of this Tuscan all-rounder. This is a true Renaissance wine.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
I can still remember nearly falling out of my chair the first time I tasted the 2006 Masseto (100% Merlot) from barrel. The wine is now in bottle, and it is every bit as monumental as I had hoped. The wine possesses staggering richness in a style that perfectly captures the essence of this great Tuscan vintage. Black cherries, flowers, licorice and sweet toasted oak are just some of the nuances that emerge from the 2006 Masseto. A wine of breathtaking depth, it also reveals superb clarity, freshness and vibrancy in sumptuous, beautifully-balanced style. Simply put, the 2006 Masseto is a masterpiece from Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia. According to Agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini the dryness of the vintage slowed down the maturation of the sugars, leaving the wine with an unusually high level of acidity, and therefore freshness, considering its overall ripeness. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031. This set of new releases from Tenuta dell’Ornellaia leaves me looking for words that can adequately capture the pure magic and sheer profoundness the property has achieved in this important, hallmark vintage. I will try with one word: Monumental. The Ornellaia team led by Oenologist Axel Heinz and Agronomist/General Manager Leonardo Raspini has done a fabulous job with these wines, which have never failed to literally send shivers down my spine on the multiple occasions I have tasted them. Importer: Folio Fine Wine Partners, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 256-2700
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
I remember the first time I tasted the 2006 Masseto. It's that kind of wine. The 2006 is every bit as magnificent today. Dense, richly-textured and potent to its core, the 2006 is a wine for readers who can be patient. I love the brooding intensity and sense of gravitas the 2006 conveys. Tonight, it is stellar, but still so young.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
I still remember where I was the first time I tasted the 2006 Masseto. Since then, I have tasted the 2006 several times. It has never been anything less than utterly profound. That is once again the case on this night. Readers who are cellaring the 2006 Masseto in magnum will want to wait at least a few years for it to be at its very best. Still, it is magnificent tonight.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2006 Masseto remains the greatest wine made at this now iconic Bolgheri estate. When it was young, the 2006 was a powerhouse, but over the last few years a more elegant, restrained side of the wine has begun to emerge. The tannins remain sinewy and intense, but at the same time, there is a purity and overall brightness in the flavors that ensure the 2006 will drink beautifully for another twenty years or so. Sweet floral and spiced notes invite a second taste, and then a third in a wine that captures the pedigree of Merlot and this privileged site on the Tuscan Coast.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
In my opinion, the 2006 Masseto is the greatest ever made, and this tasting confirmed the wine's justly deserved reputation as an icon. With absolutely nothing out of place, the 2006 came across as rich, dense and totally beautiful, The 2006 is essentially a combination of 2007 and 2008, with a little more elegance added in for good measure. What a wine!
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
In my view the 2006 is the greatest Masseto ever made, and the wine certainly lives up to those expectations tonight. It is a marvelously balanced wine with well-articulated aromatics and generous fruit, all supported by powerful yet sophisticated tannins. This is a fabulous showing.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2006 Masseto remains the greatest wine made at this now iconic Bolgheri estate. When it was young, the 2006 was a powerhouse, but over the last few years a more elegant, restrained side of the wine has begun to emerge. The tannins remain sinewy and intense, but at the same time, there is a purity and overall brightness in the flavors that ensure the 2006 will drink beautifully for another twenty years or so. Sweet floral and spiced notes invite a second taste, and then a third in a wine that captures the pedigree of Merlot and this privileged site on the Tuscan Coast.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
I still remember where I was the first time I tasted the 2006 Masseto. Since then, I have tasted the 2006 several times. It has never been anything less than utterly profound. That is once again the case on this night. Readers who are cellaring the 2006 Masseto in magnum will want to wait at least a few years for it to be at its very best. Still, it is magnificent tonight.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
What a pleasure to taste. This is full throttle and super sexy. Incredible wild aromas of dried fruits, black olives, and brown sugar. Full bodied with a phenomenal amount of fruit and freshness at the same time. The finish goes on and on. I love this wine, so wild. Find the wine
Reviewed by: James Suckling
This has a special savory character that is fascinating. It shows beautiful aromas of dried fruits, black olives, and brown sugar. Full-bodied with a phenomenal amount of fruit and freshness at the same time. Salty, juicy and fruity. Hard not to drink now. Decant two or three hours before serving. Great potential for aging.
About the Producer
For 700 years the Frescobaldi family has combined tradition, experience and innovation with creativity and the pursuit of excellence. The family has always looked to develop and celebrate the diversity of Tuscany’s terroir, being proud owners of some of the greatest vineyards in this region. The Masseto hill is a special place, both a revelation and a mystery. This is where terroir victoriously transcends the grape varieties and where the blue clays of the Pliocene Era tell their ancient story. Millions of years ago a deep marine substrate was deposited which transformed gradually into blue clay that came to the surface on this hill after thousands of years of erosion. The shells and fossils found imbedded in the clays are testimony to this. With a heart as hard as stone and yet with an intriguing fragility, the clay knows just how to adjust to its environment & climate. This contrast is reflected in the intense power and silky elegance to be found in Masseto.
1992(2)1994(1)1995(2)1996(2)1997(1)1998(3)1999(4)2000(1)2001(3)2002(5)2003(5)2004(8)2005(5)
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