Masseto Toskana IGT, Tenuta dell' Ornellaia, 2018

The 2018 Masseto has an old-world gravity that separates it slightly from the more opulent recent vintages. Blue and black fruit aromas carry a note of smoky complexity, the spice darker, the character more brooding than open. On the palate, the depth and concentration are fully present, the structure serious and built for time. Those who prefer their Merlot with authority rather than immediate generosity will find this vintage particularly compelling, a wine that asks for patience and rewards it with considerable substance.