Tenuta dell’Ornellaia – Bolgheri DOC Superiore Ornellaia 2009, 2010, 2011 (3 bt.)
€780.00
Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, now simply Ornellaia, is one of the icons of Bolgheri DOC and of Super Tuscans: wines produced in the style of the Bordeaux “blends”.
The estate was founded by a member of the Antinori family, the Marquis Lodovico Antinori, at the beginning of the 1980s, with the first harvest in 1985, just next to Tenuta San Guido, producer of the other gem of the appellation, Sassicaia, and next to the property of his own brother, Solaia.
Ornellaia soon established itself as a point of reference for the wines of the region and for Italian wine in general. In 1999 it attracted the attention of Robert Mondavi, who bought a small share, and then up to the 50%. The Frescobaldi family, an ancient and noble Florentine family, influential and powerful since the Middle Age, acquired the remaining 50% and, shortly afterwards, in 2005, redeemed the entire estate from Constellation Brands (which in the meantime had acquired Mondavi), becoming, as for today, the only owner of what is one of the most important and valuable wineries in the Country, with the production of two of the most expensive wines in Italy: Ornellaia and Masseto.
Aalmost 100 hectares of property, distributed in Ornellaia and Bellaria, in addition to the Merlot vineyards (7 hectares) in Masseto, which give the name to this wine.
Ornellaia is undoubtedly the “signature” wine of the company: a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot which is however made, in full house style, with particular attention to the expression of the terroir on which vines grow. The result is a unique product for its elegance that is, according to the major critics, the stylistic code of this wine.
2009 was a vintage characterized by a cool spring, followed by a rapid increase in temperatures. This led to an early harvest to allow the freshness and aromatic component to be maintained. The wine received from the winery the nickname of “L’equilibrio” (Balance).
2010 was an extremely late vintage, cool on avarage, which produced one of the most elegant vintages in the history of Ornellaia, according to winemaker Alex Heinz. It is the twenty-fifth anniversary of the wine, which has thus earned the title of “La Celebrazione” (the celebration).
2011 is an early vintage, delivering an extremely structured Ornellaia, so important that the wine earns the name of “L’Infinito”.
2009: Bright and defined fruit, enriched with spicy notes. Excellent freshness of aromatic herbs and long finish.
2010: A complex, deep and expressive wine, with a perfect integration of bright ripe fruit, spices, notes of chocolate and tobacco, but also aromatic herbs and balsamic that give freshness and a silky texture.
2011: An intense and structured wine, endowed with extreme richness and depth.
Very important tannins and an austerity that underlines the aging potential.
The fruit is ripe but bright, lifted by minerality and sapidity. Tertiary notes: tobacco, coffee and some floral scents.
16-18 °C
Suggestion to open it about 1 to 2 hours before serving it. And let it breath in the glass as well.
Sustainable agriculture, limited intervention.
Separate vinification of the various parcels. Fermentation and maceration in stainless-steel. Malolactic fermentation in barriques (70% new), blending after 12 months and then a further 6 months in barriques. Bottling and further 12 months of rest before release.
