Ornellaia 2018
BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE RED
The desire to express the exceptional qualities of the estate has been the basis of Ornellaia's philosophy from the very beginning. Ornellaia is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, a faithful expression of a unique terroir that has always been in harmony with nature.

51% MERLOT
40% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
7% CABERNET FRANC
2% PETIT VERDOT
After years in which winter seemed to be forgotten, 2018 brought the climatic conditions back to normal, with temperatures below zero sufficient for the vines to begin their well-deserved winter rest. Spring will be remembered as one of the wettest in history, with rainfall three times higher than the seasonal average and with high temperatures in April. Despite the late budding, the climatic conditions and the rapid growth of the shoots allowed the vines to catch up by anticipating flowering by a whole week. Throughout the month of May and, albeit to a lesser extent, in June, rainfall remained above average, with a respite in July: a hot and dry month. The veraison took place between 22 and 25 July and the month of August was as hot as the previous year, but slightly more rainy. The sugars and acidity developed slowly, while the berries, due to the high levels of water present in the soil, have reached larger sizes. In September, the weather was warm and without precipitation. Temperatures were higher than the seasonal average, but the cooler nights allowed the vines to recover and preserve the aromas and acidity. The harvest of the reds began on August 31 with the Merlots, and ended on October 8 with the later vines.
VINIFICATION AND AGING
The harvest took place by hand in 15 kg crates and the bunches were selected on a double sorting table before and after destemming and subjected to soft pressing at the end. Each variety and each parcel was vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation took place in stainless steel vats at temperatures between 26-30 ° C for a week followed by maceration for a total of about 10-15 days. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barriques (70% new and 30% first passage). The wine remained in barriques in the Ornellaia cellar at a controlled temperature for a period of about 18 months. After the first 12 months, the assembly was carried out and then reintroduced into the barriques where it spent another 6 months. The wine remains in the bottle for another 12 months before being placed on the market.

NOTES OF THE OENOLOGIST
"With the usual intense ruby ​​red color, Ornellaia 2018 is characterized by a lively and intense aromatic expression, a distinctive mark of the vintage. Red fruits, citrus notes, hints of licorice and Mediterranean scrub are combined, outlining the profile of Ornellaia 2018. On tasting the wine is enveloping and well proportioned in all its components: the tannic texture, dense and at the same time silky, fills the palate with elegance and precision. The finish is embellished with an evident sapid vein that enhances the sensation of freshness and persistence. " Olga Fusari - Oenologist - July 2020