Ornellaia is born from the encounter between nature and thought. Ancient and complex soils interact, through the wisdom of man,
with a delicate microclimate that finds its echo and reflection in the Mediterranean Sea. A long aging
accompany the estate's great wine to its maximum expression, revealing its finesse, breadth,
and generosity over time.
TASTING NOTES
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14.5% vol.
The wine presents an extraordinarily intense color: a deep, vibrant, and brilliant ruby ??red, which immediately reveals
its richness. The nose opens with great expressiveness, releasing intense aromas of ripe black fruit,
including blueberry and blackberry, accompanied by elegant notes of toasted almonds and cocoa. As it ages in the glass,
hints of Mediterranean scrub emerge, further enriching a bouquet of rare complexity.
The impact on the palate is broad and enveloping: the palate is filled with dense and concentrated texture, yet surprisingly velvety
and delicate, animated by a vitality that gives energy and momentum to the tasting. The structure, though powerful, expresses itself with
softness and finesse, revealing perfect balance. The finish is very long, supported by silky and perfectly
chiseled tannins, which provide savory flavor and great persistence.
Ornellaia 2023 is a wine born of an excellent vintage, capable of authentically conveying the strength and harmony of a
unique terroir, fully expressing its potential.
THE CLIMATE OF 2023
2023 was a challenging vintage in Bolgheri, which nevertheless benefited from nature's benevolence at
crucial moments of the growing season. The winter was mild, with relatively high temperatures and normal rainfall,
which favored early vine growth. Spring brought abundant
rainfall, which helped replenish water reserves for summer, but required meticulous work
in the vineyard. The hot summer saw high temperatures, though not extreme, accompanied by
rainfall that mitigated water stress in the vineyards. This allowed for a gradual and regular ripening
of the grapes, which reached a high concentration. The rains at the end of August and the cool nights of September
favored the development of aromatic complexity and preserved the wine's acidity, ensuring a perfect
balance between power and elegance.
VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The grapes were harvested by hand in 15-kg crates, and the bunches were selected on a double sorting table
before and after destemming, and finally subjected to a soft pressing. In 2016, in addition to manual selection, optical selection was introduced to further enhance the quality of the selection. Each variety and each parcel was vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation took place partly in stainless steel vats and partly in concrete vats at temperatures between 26 and 30°C for a week, followed by maceration for approximately 15 days, for a total of approximately three weeks in the tank. Malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barriques (70% new and 30% used). The wine remained in barriques in the Ornellaia cellar at a controlled temperature for approximately 18 months. After the first 12 months, the wine was blended and then returned to the barriques for another 6 months. The wine then aged in the bottle for 12 months before being released to the market.