100
points
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2007 Masseto Merlot (Toscana)
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$460
A perfect wine from a classic vintage, the 2007 Masseto (100% Merlot from a 17-acre vineyard of the same name) opens with an unabashedly opulent bouquet of delicious blackberry, cherry, chocolate, vanilla, exotic spice and cinnamon. Masseto excels both in terms of quality of fruit and winemaking and delivers plush, velvety tannins and an extra long, supple finish…
— M.L.
(12/15/2010)
99
points
Tenuta dell'Ornellaia 2004 Masseto Merlot (Toscana)
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$250
Even better than the highly acclaimed 2001 vintage, this Merlot from a tiny, clay soil vineyard in Bolgheri is just about everything you’ve ever dreamed of tasting. Gorgeous, generous, voluptuous, cheerful, succulent and intense: Masseto is all those things. The aromas are seamless and capture the essence of chocolate fudge, sweet cherry, blackberry, spice and…
— M.L.
(4/1/2008)
98
points
Fattoria Petrolo 2007 Galatrona Merlot (Toscana)
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$135
Galatrona is an opulent, gorgeous wine (from the excellent 2007) vintage that shows the very best of Merlot in Italy. Thanks to a unique growing climate located between Florence, Siena and Arezzo, as well as extremely low vineyard yields, the wine feels soft and velvety and imparts long-lasting flavors of black cherry, lively spice, tobacco and cigar box. The true…
— M.L.
(12/15/2010)
98
points
Le Macchiole 2006 Messorio Merlot (Toscana)
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$320
Messorio (a 100% expression of delicious Merlot) is a wine that has already reached elite cult status and for very good reason. The opulence, richness and overall pleasure factor are unbeatable and the wine is sophisticated, elegant and balanced at the same time. The long fade is characterized by vanilla, chocolate, espresso, cherry and blackberry.
— M.L.
(12/15/2010)
98
points
Le Macchiole 2007 Paleo Cabernet Franc (Toscana)
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$125
Paleo (a pure expression of Cabernet Franc from Coastal Tuscany) is a drop dead gorgeous wine with amazing intensity and purity of aromas. You get it all here: Bright berry notes, drying mineral, exotic spice, cooling acidity and firm, satisfying structure. It’s a rich, velvety and beautiful wine that will award you a memorable drinking experience now or in 10…
— M.L.
(12/15/2010)