Tenuta dell'Ornellaia - Masseto 1989, Tuscany, Italy

Introduction: The up-and-coming prince reaches maturity

Masseto 1989followed on from the first two early, iconic vintages of 1987 and 1988 and represents a phase in which the potential of the parcel was increasingly clearly recognised and vinified with growing experience. The 1989vintage in Tuscany was an excellent, warm and concentrated vintage that produced powerful, deep wines with good structure. For a pure Merlot on the heavy clay soils of Bolgheri, this meant ideal conditions for extract and ripeness while retaining freshness. After more than 30 years, this Masseto has transformed the vigour of its youth into a sensual, complex maturity and today stands as a fully mature ambassador of its era.

Sensory description (when stored perfectly)

A perfectly aged 1989 Masseto offers a classic, mature profile that combines the unmistakable signature of the terroir with the luscious fruit of the vintage.

Colour

• A deep, concentrated garnet red with distinct brick-red to orange-coloured edges. The colour shows advanced, noble maturity, but retains an impressive density.

Nose

The bouquet is intense, profound and characterised by an irresistible blend of tertiary complexity and residual, refined fruit.

• Mature, dark fruit: Plum jam, preserved black cherries, dried mulberries, a hint of blackcurrant jelly.

• Noble wood & spice maturity: Fully integrated flavours of cedar wood, cigar box, damp tobacco, leather, vanilla and a subtle chocolaty note.

• Tertiary & Animal Complexity: Pronounced notes of truffle, undergrowth, mushrooms and an elegant animal spice (fur, saddlery).

• Mineral foundation: The characteristic cool, graphitic and clayey minerality of the "Massi" soils shines through.

Palate

On the palate, the wine has a perfect harmony between silky softness and preserved structure.

• Texture: Full-bodied, silky and with a velvety, fully integrated tannin structure. The wine washes over the palate with a warming, luxurious texture.

• Acidity: Still clearly perceptible and invigorating, it is the key to the wine's vibrancy, giving it a pleasant tension and preventing the opulent fruit and texture from appearing heavy.

• Flavour development: A generous, layered development: first the ripe, sweet fruit and spice, then the woody and earthy depths.

• Finish: Very long, complex and persistent. The aftertaste of ripe plum, cedar wood, truffle and a salty minerality lingers long in the memory.

Vintage & development context

1989 vintage in Tuscany

• An excellent, warm and sunny vintage that produced ripe, concentrated wines with a good acid structure. It is often compared to the great 1988, but is more accessible and ripe earlier. Perfect conditions for a structured, long-lived Merlot.

Masseto in the context of the late 1980s

• After the pioneering years (1986-1987), the team around André Tchelistcheff and Tibor Gálhad gained an even better understanding of the specialities of the plot. The 1989 benefits from this growing experience and shows greater precision and balance than some of its predecessors, with undiminished terroir character.

Drinking maturity & ageing potential

Current drinking maturity

The wine has fully reachedits optimum drinking windowand is on a plateau of great complexity and accessibility. It is a perfect example of a fully mature, old Masseto.

Development potential

• Peak: Now. No further improvement is to be expected.

• Longevity: With perfect cellaring, it can retain its form for another 5-10 years, but will slowly lose its fruity richness and move even more strongly into the tertiary, spicy-earthy phase.

Rating & recommendations

Rating (for a perfect bottle): 96-98/100 points

A Masseto of great class, maturity and sensuality. It represents the consolidation of the quality of this legendary wine in an outstanding vintage and offers an unrivalled drinking experience.

Recommendations for enjoyment

1. Decanting: Recommended (45-60 minutes) to open up the complex aromas and separate any sediment. Not too long so as not to jeopardise the delicate structure.

2. Serving temperature: 16-17°C.

3. Glass: A large, balloon-shaped Bordeaux glass.

4. Food pairing: This wine deserves exquisite accompaniment:

   • Game: saddle of venison, pheasant with truffle.

   • Fine beef: fillet steak, chateaubriand.

   • Mature, strong cheese (Pecorino, old Parmigiano).

Conclusion

The Masseto 1989 is a wine of timeless elegance and deep-rooted power. It is less a spectacular powerhouse than a sensual, complex and fully mature gentleman. It demonstrates the extraordinary longevity and development potential of the Masseto terroir and shows how the lush fruit of Merlot can be transformed over time into an unrivalled mineral and spicy depth. Opening a bottle is the reward for long patience and a moment of pleasure of rare intensity and beauty. A true classic for connoisseurs and collectors.