The Ornellaia 2017 Bolgheri Superiore (Super Tuscan) is generous and fruit-forward with dense richness and concentration all driven by the smaller and more compact berry size that characterizes this dry, hot growing season.
Black and purple fruits segue to spice, tobacco, leather, and some of those beautiful Mediterranean notes of black olive and wild sage. These various moving pieces work together in perfect harmony. The tannins are beautifully managed here. If you consider the more astringent and rougher approach of the mid-tier Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia, this wine shows a whole other level of magnificent tannic management that could not have been easy given the diminutive berry size.
This vintage sees a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard soils in this Super Tuscan Bolgheri bottle are characterized by reddish sand with calcareous rock. Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Super Tuscan is fermented in both stainless steel and cement and is transferred over to barrique to finish malolactic fermentation. It ages in barrique for 18 months followed by another 12 months in bottle.
97 Points by Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
96 Points by Robert Parker