Ornellaia

In the glass

Aroma: black cherry, cassis, graphite, sweet cedar

Palate: dark plum, iron, espresso, polished oak

Lodovico Antinori's Bolgheri Bordeaux-blend, founded 1981. Bolgheri Superiore DOC under Frescobaldi ownership; Wine Spectator Wine of the Year 2001 for the 1998 vintage.

What it pairs with

• Rib of beef, dry-aged Find rib of beef, dry-aged on TableJourney →
  Bolgheri Cabernet structure handles dry-aged beef.
• Florentine T-bone with bone marrow Find florentine t-bone with bone marrow on TableJourney →
  Wine and marrow lock together.
• Aged Pecorino with truffle honey
  Sweet umami amplifies the wine's cedar.

History

Lodovico Antinori founded Tenuta dell'Ornellaia in 1981; the first Ornellaia vintage was 1985. Frescobaldi acquired full ownership in 2005. Wine Spectator named the 1998 Ornellaia its 2001 Wine of the Year.

1. 1981 — Lodovico Antinori founds the estate
2. 1985 — First Ornellaia vintage
3. 2001 — Wine Spectator names 1998 Ornellaia its Wine of the Year
4. 2005 — Frescobaldi acquires full ownership

Facts

Producer

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (15%), Petit Verdot (5%)

Classification

Bolgheri Superiore DOC

Oak

18 months in French oak barriques, around 70 percent new

ABV

14.5%

Price

EUR 200 to 350 at retail

Drinking window

8 to 25 from vintage

First vintage

1985

Scores

• Wine Spectator 96 (1998 vintage, reviewed 2001)
• Wine Advocate 98 (2015 vintage, reviewed 2018)

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