With 25 years of outstanding wines, ‘Ornellaia’
can lay claim to being a first-growth equivalent. Originally established in the Bolgheri
coastal region in 1981 by the Marchese Lodovico Antinori to produce
super-Tuscan, Bordeaux-styled wines to match the likes of ‘Sassicaia’ and ‘Solaia’,
the wines from the superlative 76 ha Tenuta dell’Ornellaia estate rapidly
became their peer. The nature of the
site is such that a 100% Merlot called ‘Masseto’ from a distinctive plot joined
the ‘Ornellaia’ in this first-growth league, and together they now challenge
the best properties of Bordeaux. Tenuta dell’Ornellaia
is now owned by the Frescobaldi family with Axel Heinz as the oenologist and
Leonardo Raspini as agronomist/general manager.
The 2007 vintage in Tuscany is regarded as an
outstanding one, comparable to 2001, 2004 and 2006. The wines are slightly richer than the 2006s,
but equally structured and balanced. The
‘Ornellaia’ 2007 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 14% Cabernet
Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the wine was aged 18 months in 70% new oak
barriques. It has received rave reviews
now that it has been released.
Interestingly, the wine has been rated by The Wine Advocate higher than
the 2007 releases of Chateaux Latour, Margaux, Mouton-Rothschild, Haut-Brion,
Petrus, Le Pin and Cheval Blanc, which cost two to four times or more than ‘Ornellaia’.
Here is the review of the 2007 ‘Ornellaia’ from
Robert Parker’s ‘Wine Advocate’ Issue 510, May 2010: “The 2007 Ornellaia is
remarkably open and accessible, very much in keeping with the personality of
the vintage. Clean, minerally notes
frame a core of silky, perfumed dark fruit, mocha, spices, licorice, grilled
herbs and leather that impresses for its exceptional length.” “The 2007 is not a big, massive Ornellaia,
but rather a wine built on elegance and finesse, both of which are on full
display. The 2007 should drink well with
a minimum of cellaring.” Anticipated
maturity: 2012-2022. 93/100 points.