Tasting notes: Dances with astoundingly deep plum, blackberry, cassis and lively acid. As close to perfect as merlot gets. Worth knowing: The Ornellaia estate was first planted in Bolgheri by Lodovico Antinori in 1981, with advice from André Tchelistcheff. Robert Mondavi and the Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi were co-owners for several years, before complete ownership of the Tenuta dell Ornellaia was transferred to the Frescobaldi family in early 2005. First released in the 1986 vintage, Masseto has achieved a cult status even above that of Ornellaia itself.