Ornellaia Ornellaia 2020 (750ml)
Product price
Description
Ornellaia 2020 is a Bordeaux blend from Bolgheri, in Tuscany's coastal hills. The wine is built from mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with small portions of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Each varietal and vineyard block was fermented separately in stainless steel and concrete, then aged for 18 months in French oak (70% new) before assembly and bottling.
The 2020 shows remarkable balance between richness and restraint. Dark cassis and leafy kiwi peel lead, with citrus undertones and hints of graphite and tobacco smoke. The palate is supple, built on velvety tannins that feel seamlessly integrated with the wine's structure. There is real freshness here, a savoury, grainy finish that keeps the wine lively and precise despite its depth. The alcohol sits comfortably in the background. This is an accessible expression of Ornellaia, one that rewards drinking soon but will also age gracefully with time in the cellar.
Expert Reviews
Ornellaia 2020 shows an outstanding balance between suppleness and structure. Each grape variety and individual block were vinified separately in stainless steel and concrete tanks, followed by maceration for about 15 days, for a total time in the vat of about three weeks. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barrels, 70% new and 30% used once. After the first 12 months of maturation in barriques, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an additional six months. Purple in the glass and concentrated yet very restrained, dark cassis emerges above leafy kiwi peel and citrussy hints. There's some lightness on the palate, with velvety tannins and a savoury yet youthful character. The finish is lively, super-fresh and grainy, and the alcohol is integrated well. Graphite and ‘Early morning’ pipe tobacco enhance the aftertaste.
Tasted from barrel, the 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be presented in the fall but won’t hit the market until spring of the following year. This is a beauty, so generous and opulent with fully seamless transitions. The wine’s traditional blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with tiny percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, although this warm vintage makes due with a pinch less of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit is selected across 107 hectares of Ornellaia vines, although the estate recently purchased an additional eight hectares next to Guado al Tasso in Castagneto Carducci, with terraces and vines aged between 15 and 28 years old. This broad and generous expression has a beautiful quality of fruit and oak that speaks to the very best of Italian winemaking. 95-97
The 2020 Ornellaia is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Seamless and wonderfully deep on the palate, the 2020 is super-refined from the outset. Even with all of its depth, the 2020 retains terrific freshness and cut to play off its soft, succulent fruit. Overall, the 2020 looks to be a relatively accessible Ornellaia that will drink well with minimal cellaring. I especially admire the precision and understated finesse here.