2020 Masseto Merlot 99 PP, dry, 15% vol., Ornellaia

Intense and full on the nose, redolent of ripe black fruits, floral components, and gentle spice. The palate is round and full, rich and muscular, yet dense and neatly coiled with licorice, graphite, pepper, cinnamon, and clove notes that give it that immediate yet pleasant spice. Juicy with high acidity that enlivens the palate and adds freshness and lightness, along with truly delicious strawberry and raspberry fruits with such captivating aspects of dried flowers and bitter orange peel. The tannins are superfine and so well integrated, yet the wine remains grippy and firm from the moment it opens to the long and lingering finish. Nuanced and complex, still powerful, but it feels refined, gentle, purposeful, and controlled. Not elegant-it`s more of a caged animal whose full potential has yet to be revealed-but it is classy. Malolactic fermentation took place in 100% new oak barrels, with each batch kept separate for the first 12 months of aging before blending and returning to oak barrels for a further year, for a total of 24 months. The wine then aged for a further 12 months in bottle before release. 99 Parker points.