2017 Tenuta dell’Ornellaia | Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia

Detailed Description

From a hot vintage in Bolgheri, the 2017 Ornellaia is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and the rest close to an even split of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that spent 18 months in French oak. It doesn’t match the 2016, but it‚Äôs a beautiful wine offering complex notes of red and black fruits, chocolate, roasted herbs, licorice, and dried earth.

Reviews:     

• Decanter In 2017 the production of Ornellaia (a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc) was reduced by 15% due to the heat. Known as one of the most powerful and long-lived wines from Bolgheri, it doesn‚Äôt deceive its style. The estate was one of the few able to wait out the rain of mid-September to harvest the late-ripening varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Vinous first due to an extremely youthful cassis fruit character. 
• Wine Spectator Though well-oaked, this features ample black cherry, plum, and loam flavors to match the vanilla and sweet spice elements. Harmonious and accessible at this young stage, but will be better in a few years once the components harmonize. Vibrant and long. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2038

Producer Information

Here’s one of the original Super Tuscan producers, the group of wines known for using Bordeaux varieties in Sangiovese country to create magnificent wines. Tenuta dell‚ÄôOrnellaia was founded by Marchese Lodovico Antinori in 1981. He‚Äôs the cousin of Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, founder of Sassicaia, and brother of Piero Antonori who started Solaia at Tenuta Tignanello. So Super Tuscans, and no doubt competitiveness, run in the family.