Seven bottles of Masseto, 1993 vintage; Robert Parker (1997): 91/100; Wine Spectator (1996): 91/100; Antonio Galloni (2011): 94/100
Five bottles of Masseto, 1994 vintage; Robert Parker (1998): 92/100; Wine Spectator (1997): 91/100; Antonio Galloni (2011): 95/100
Produced by Tenuta dell’Ornellaia
Bolgheri, Tuscany/Italy
Original filling quantity: 0.75 l
Fill level: into neck

This lot comprises twelve bottles of the Masseto Merlot wine from Tenuta dell’Ornellaia in Bolgheri, seven bottles from the 1993 vintage and five bottles from the 1994 vintage.

Bolgheri is a small town in the Maremma, the southern part of Tuscany, which gained recognition for its role in the revival of Italian premium red wine. Historically, the wine-growing country is hardly steeped in heritage, especially when compared to Chianti, however pioneer vintners triggered a new era of Italian premium winegrowing here at the end of the 1960s. Wines including Tignanello, Sassicaia and Orenellaia were produced by members of Tuscan wine dynasty Antinoir in Bolgheri. These wines were not like traditional Sangiovese regarding taste and structure, but rather characteristic of French types, such as Merlot, Cabernet and, later, Syrah. They were therefore initially only allowed to be marketed as Vini da Tavola. However, these wines were more than just fashionable, they established a new notion of taste and style for Tuscan red wine. Their immense success led to them being recognized as DOC wines during the 1990s. Their style of winegrowing was also innovative – they used barriques, small wooden oak barrels, which was not usual for Tuscany. The best of these Super Tuscans have proved to be of stable value and long-lasting.

1993 was a difficult vintage due to rain, the southern regions like Vino Nobile di Montepulciano produced concentrated and long-lived wines. In 1994 the weather in Tuscany was cool and dry during the harvest and the wines produced in that year are among the best of the decade with good structure.

The 1993 Masseto was rated 91 points by Robert Parker in 1997. It received the same score from James Suckling in Wine Spectator magazine in 1996. Antonio Galloni rated the wine 94 points in Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate in 2011. The 1994 Masseto was rated 92 points by Robert Parker in 1998. It was rated 91 points by James Suckling in Wine Spectator magazine in 1997. Antonio Galloni rated the wine 95 points in Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate in 2011.

The fill levels are excellent (into neck). The labels and capsules are in perfect condition.