
Merlot wine: undisputed excellency
Merlot wine is characterized by an unmistakable taste, which is the result of an exceptional vineyard that is capable of creating a masterpiece. The high quality of Merlot is no novelty: this unique product is beloved by everyone… Even blackbirds (“merlo” in Italian) love these grapes and are responsible for the name “Merlot”.
All activities at Tenuta Ornellaia have the same goal: quality. This objective guides the experience, the competence, and the determination of all of those who take care of wine production:
In the heart of Tuscan Maremma, between Livorno and Grosseto, the Tenuta San Guido estate vineyards cover 90 hectares of hillsides, growing at an altitude of up to almost 400 metres, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. The estate’s vineyards are strictly divided into selected zones according to the different characteristics of exposure and soil composition.
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Merlot grapes have an extremely thin peel, which is born primarily in damp lands, rich in fat and clay.
Merlot wine is born in France, although its harvest is possible in many other regions as well, thanks to the characteristics of the grapes, which can easily adapt to any climate. Enoteca Properzio is the proud owner of a large selection of the best Merlot wines, both Italian and foreign.

Merlot wine: from the vineyards to its sensory characteristics
The sensory characteristics of Merlot are what make it such an excellent product. Its ruby red color offers shades that are velvety and intense. Its taste is a mix of grassy and woody aromas, which make its structure rich and well-balanced. To the palate, it is strong and persistent (almost solid), while its fragrance releases the smell of forest. Among the strongest smells are those of berries, such as blackberries, cranberries and boysenberries; but one can also grasp the smell of pine needles, oregano and other grassy spices. Merlot vineyards can adapt to different climates, which makes it possible to grow these grapes in geographically diverse areas. In Italy, this wine is produced in many regions, although some are more productive than others, Veneto, Sicily, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Tuscany. These lands produce the best Italian Merlot wines. Some are quite famous around the world; others are less famous, though still sold with a great quality/price rapport and produced by great professionals.

The best Merlot wines on Enoteca Properzio
Enoteca Properzio possesses many 100% refined Italian Merlot wines. Among these wines are Masseto di Ornellaia, produced in Tuscany, with qualities that are appreciated by the best sommeliers. It is the perfect wine to combine with the gastronomical delicacies of the region, especially with white and red meat. Enoteca Properzio offers bottles from different production years, each with a specific taste and smell. It is, without a doubt, one of the best italian red wines produced in Italy. For this reason, you can purchase these bottles in an elegant and strong casing, perfect for the high quality of the wine. Another Merlot wine that is worth mentioning is Massetino, created from a blend between Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. It bodes perfectly with stew and grilled meat, or with cold cuts and cheese.
The best Italian Merlot and much more!
Let us now focus on a 100% French Merlot wine: the Pétrus Pomerol of Chateau Pétrus. The peculiarity of this wine is the presence of cocoa, pepper, and violet aromas. It is a Merlot wine carefully selected during the production stage. The best quality of this bottle is guaranteed by its specific cultivation area: carefully studied lands to allow this Merlot wine to release its maximum potential. It is not by chance that Pétrus Pomerol is famous world-wide. The ideal degustation temperature is between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. In the Enoteca Properzio catalogue you will find bottles and casings from different production years to be deeply enjoyed.
from the grape harvest to the fermentation, when the grapes from the different vineyards are left to ferment separately. The philosophy at Ornellaia is that every starter wine is an essential and determining part of the final result. It is only after one year of being left to ferment in separate barrels that the final wine blend is created in perfect Ornellaia style: elegant and vintage.

Ornellaia wines: the excellency of Italy
The origins of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, close to Bolgheri, in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma, are found in quite recent times. In 1981 count Lodovico Antinori founded Ornellaia in the perfect area to create a distinctive setting. Here, red and white wines can blossom, becoming the perfect expression of the land they come from. It is a region that is quite close to the Mediterranean coast: in the summer months a light sea breeze caresses the vineyards; in the winter months the hills are the perfect natural protection from the cold Northern winds, assisting in the production of these marvelous super Tuscan wines. Both red and white wines at Tenuta dell’Ornellaia are characterized by unmistakable fragrances, which recall the history and tradition of a passion that searches for quality and good taste. It is not by chance that the aromatic notes of these wines are appreciated all over the world. At the olfactory level, these wines emanate unmistakable aromas, which amaze tasters at every sampling. The inebriating scents are freed in the nose, as the perfect harmony of taste and fragrance expands after each sip. In particular, the red wines at Ornellaia are characterized by a unique color: a precious ruby-red, intense, and capable of bewitching anyone who lays eyes on them. If you want to buy italian wine visit Enoteca Properzio and you’ll find the best products for you and for your friends.
Choose Masseto and all the Tenuta dell'Ornellaia wines
To drink a glass of Ornellaia means to delve into a world made of pure pleasure, a true sensorial sampling capable of exalting and enhancing aperitifs and entire meals. These wines are synonym of flavor and quality, as well as attention, dedication, and a passion for excellency wines, renowned all over the world.
While some offer caramel and ripe fruit notes, others cannot hide hints of dark chocolate or aromatic herbs. They are rich on the palate and bode particularly well with red and game meat.
Last but not least, when you talk about Tenuta dell'Ornellaia you can't forget a very special wine: the Masseto. This fabulous tuscan wine is a 100% Merlot and it's perfect to be paired with first courses or red meat.
Sassicaia: top wine of Tenuta San Guido

Sassicaia is the Tenuta San Guido estate's top wine, whose history dates back to the 1920s. This was when young Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, a student in Pisa, decided to follow his dream and create a purebred wine. French Bordeaux wine was his point of reference and that of the aristocracy of the time. Later when he and his wife moved to the San Guido estate, he started experimenting and, realising just how similar this area of Tuscany is to the French subregion of Graves in Bordeaux, he decided to attempt to grow vines here, a zone hitherto unknown to the world of wine. This led to Sassicaia, which, for nearly 20 years (1948-1967), was produced strictly for private consumption. Over the years, leaving the wine to age in the estate’s cellars, he realised that with time, what had previously seemed defects became virtues. And so, in 1968, Mario Incisa della Rocchetta decided to launch on the market the first vintage of this italian fine red wine, which was given a welcome equal to that of a Premier Cru from Bordeaux. Along with Sassicaia, the Tenuta San Guido estate also produces Guidalberto and Le Difese.