Ornellaia 2019
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.

62% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
31% MERLOT
4% PETIT VERDOT
3% CABERNET FRANC
The 2019 vintage was characterized as few by a very variable climate, which alternated periods of cold and rain with long periods of drought and heat. After a normal winter, budding took place in the first week of April. The cold and rainy conditions throughout April and May significantly slowed down the vegetative development, leading to a 10-day delayed flowering compared to the average. In June, a very hot and rainless weather suddenly arrived with temperature peaks of 37 ° C reached at the end of the month. Throughout the summer, the weather remained warm and sunny with temperatures well 2 ° C above average and 45 consecutive days without rain. In the last week of July, the long dry period was interrupted by two days of rain, allowing the temperature to be brought back to the seasonal norm, with ideal conditions for ripening. The harvest began slowly on September 5th. As usual, the last week of September saw a lowering of temperatures which made it possible to preserve a great finesse and aromatic freshness. After another rainy event after 21 September, sunny conditions returned which allowed us to conclude the harvest of the later vines on 4 October.

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. In 2016, in addition to manual selection, the optical one was introduced to further increase the quality of the selection. Each variety and each parcel was vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation took place partly in stainless steel vats, partly in concrete vats at temperatures between 26 and 30 ° C for a week, followed by a maceration of about 15 days, for a total stay in the tank. about three weeks. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barriques (70% new and 30% second 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, then reintroduced into the barriques, where it spent another 6 months. The wine remains in the bottle for 12 months before being launched on the market.

Axel Heinz - Estate Manager

NOTES OF THE OENOLOGIST:

"With an intense ruby ​​red color, Ornellaia 2019 is characterized on the nose by intriguing spicy and balsamic notes, including aromas of black pepper, sage and aromatic herbs. When tasted, the wine is full-bodied, but at the same time vibrant and fills the palate with its dense and elegant tannic texture, which closes in a persistent and beautifully crunchy finish. "

Olga Fusari - Oenologist - July 2021