The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



195. Villa Le Corti and Ornellaia Masseto

The incredibly hot May continues and my favourite Tuscan wine festival is back. Held at the imposing Villa Le Corti, just outside San Casciano.



This year I've somehow managed to talk my way onto the Masseto vertical tasing session on the Sunday morning and I'm really excited! A vertical tasting is where you taste several different vintages of the same wine to see how different weather conditions and the passing of time make the wines so unique. I'm going to taste seven different years of famed Bolgheri Producer, Ornellaia and their 100% cru Merlot, called Masseto. It retails from about 250 to 1,000 euro a bottle, so I'm going to be tasting about between 1,750 and 7,000 euros worth of wine!




However on the Saturday I get to taste everything else! I arrive at midday and get started on some of the expensive Supertuscan's, Tenuta di Trinoro, Testamatta, Galatrona, et... wow! There are the usual cheese and cold cuts on offer to bounce the wine off and I have my trusty rug on hand to provide me with some relaxation. I continue with some wonderful and expensive Brunellos and find two incredible white wines from Lucca. I somehow manage to stagger home, very content and get myself ready for another big day tomorrow...



Today is officially Masseto day! As the legendary and award winning Ornellaia estate is hosting a vertical tasing in the very elegant Villa Le Corti. The tables are all set out and I find a place somewhere near the front, so I can hear the speakers clearly and take some notes. There are seven glasse placed in a semi circle with the different years written on a place mat. There are three speakers on hand including newly appointed winemaker, Alex Heinz. The tasting gets under way with a description of each vintage, starting with the oldest first, as the tannins are less harsh and working round to the latest vintage. From 1995 through to 2001. The standout years are the '97, '99 and this year's 2001. The 100 % Merlot wines spend two years in French Barriques and two years in the bottle before being released onto the market. It is an incredible experience...





Annette is joining me today and after some lunch of arancini and a wicked porcini mushroom schiacciata we finish up with some dessert wines. Villa Le Corti... can we move in here?



(Original Journal entry 22/5/05)
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