1999 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto

y with homemade braciole that I made with flank steak and braised on my hom emade sauce with my homemade papardelle. I still have a number of bottles of Masseto from a variety of vintages but the 1999 was one of my favorites. The wine shows no signs of age and is a medium reddish purple. The nose was initially tight but opened after some air with plum and aromatic herbal notes. Smooth on the palate with fine grained tannins and a minerality fr om start to finish. Raspberry and red currant with hints of black coffee an d anise. Really well balanced. My favorite Merlot. "A"

I've only had Masseto once, I think the '98, and it was pretty impressive. I tend to prefer Sangiovese to Bdx-grape-Super Ts, but if less expensive I might look for this.

joy with homemade braciole that I made with flank steak and braised on my h omemade sauce with my homemade papardelle. I still have a number of bottle s of Masseto from a variety of vintages but the 1999 was one of my favorite s. The wine shows no signs of age and is a medium reddish purple. The nos e was initially tight but opened after some air with plum and aromatic herb al notes. Smooth on the palate with fine grained tannins and a minerality from start to finish. Raspberry and red currant with hints of black coffee and anise. Really well balanced. My favorite Merlot. "A"

. I tend to prefer Sangiovese to Bdx-grape-Super Ts, but if less expensive I might look for this.

Masseto retails for a ton these days. I bought Masseto every year from the year it was released when I was in the business and I was paying distribut or prices. I quit buying it years ago and I only have a few left. I beleiv e release price these days is north of $600.