56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot

The desire to nurture the Estate’s exceptional qualities has shaped Ornellaia’s philosophy since the beginning.
Ornellaia is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot and the faithful expression
of unique terroir developed in harmony with nature.
2012 was a dry growing year, like 2011, with the scarcity of water already evident during a cold, dry winter. At
budbreak, which occurred normally, a water deficit of some 100mm, compared to the multi-year average, was
already evident. A mild, sunny spring brought good vine growth, with a rapid, consistent flowering. July and
August were hot and almost rain-free, leading to fears of arrested ripening due to lack of water. However,
veraison was completely normal and satisfactory. A few spells of rain in late August and early September
increased the momentum of the ripening, and the fruit achieved fine overall ripeness, with optimal levels of
aromatics and polyphenols. The harvest for Merlot took place between 29 August and 17 September; it began
on 18 September for Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot in the younger vineyards, and
concluded with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the oldest vineyards.
The clusters were hand-picked into 15-kg boxes and then graded and selected by hand on a double sorting
table, before and after destemming, and finally soft-pressed. Each grape variety and single vineyard block was
vinified separately. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 26-30°C for one
week, followed by 10-15 days of maceration on the skins. The malolactic fermentation took place primarily in
oak barriques, 70% new and 30% once-used. The wine then remained in barriques, in Ornellaia’s temperaturecontrolled
cellars for about 18 months.
After the first 12 months of maturation, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an
additional 6 months. After bottling, the wine aged a further 12 months prior to release.