Ornellaia is a blend of nature and thought. Complex ancient soils interact through human wisdom with a delicate microclimate that is reflected in the Mediterranean Sea.
Long aging accompanies the estate's exquisite wine to achieve its fullest expression, revealing finesse and generosity over time.
Ornellaia was created in 1981 and is located near the picturesque village of Bolgheri, Tuscany. The region is a natural refuge for numerous migratory birds and other protected species. In this environment of natural beauty lie the vineyards of Ornellaia
Ornellaia Bolgheri DOC Superiore is a wine that was first produced in 1985 from the varieties Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and is one of the most awarded wines.
The 2021 Ornellaya vintage shows the characteristics of a typical Bolgheri harvest, with many sunny periods and no rain, creating a rich and concentrated wine that is both deeply expressive and generous. The nose unfolds characteristic notes of Mediterranean shrubs, herbs, cypress fruits, classic blackberry and dark fruits, accompanying the palate, endowed with dense tannins, but certainly not devoid of precision and finesse. The finish is vibrant and persistent, carrying a sense of aromatic freshness and elegance.
Variety: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon + 25% Merlot + 15% Cabernet Franc + 7% Petit Verdot
2021 CLIMATE: "2021 started with a mild but rainy winter that allowed the soil to recover its water resources. After a dry March, bud break occurred in the first two weeks of April. The gradual rise in temperatures and normal rainfall allowed the shoots to develop evenly before flowering in excellent conditions towards the end of May. Summer fully arrived in June with temperatures slightly above average and an almost complete lack of rain, which led to a summer winter in the last week of July. The dry period continued in August and September, but the spring rains and the deep soils of our estate allowed the vines to avoid too intense water stress, creating conditions for small, highly concentrated grapes with exceptional quality potential.
September was hot and sunny, without precipitation, which ensured an "à la carte" harvest to maximize the quality potential of each vineyard.
The red grapes were harvested mainly in September, with Merlot in the first two weeks, and the other estate varieties from September 13th onwards, ending on October 1st. "
Vinification: The grapes are hand-picked in 15 kg crates and then hand-selected on a double sorting table, before and after destemming, and then lightly crushed. In 2016, optical sorting was introduced in addition to manual selection to further increase the quality of the selection. Each grape variety and single vine block are vinified separately. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel and concrete tanks at temperatures between 26 and 30°C for one week, followed by maceration for about 15 days (total time in barrel of about three weeks). Malolactic fermentation takes place mainly in oak barrels, 70% new and 30% used once. The wine is then aged in the Ornellaia cellars in oak barrels (barriques) for about 18 months. After the first 12 months of aging, the wine is assembled and after this returned to the barriques for another 6 months.
After bottling, the wine is aged for another 12 months before being released on the market.
** The artist Marinella Senatore was invited to interpret the character of the 2021 vintage for the Vendemmia d’Artista project. In addition to creating a work specific to the place, she stylised a series of large-format bottles with her own style. Furthermore, for the Bordeaux bottle, the artist has designed a limited edition label alongside the traditional label --> so that in each box containing 6 750ml bottles of Ornellaia 2021, an artistic label “La Generosità” can be found.
* Meik 98 does not guarantee which of the two labels will be available for delivery.
