Ornellaia 2008 (RP:97; JS:98)

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.

Appellation:
D.O.C. Bolgheri Superiore

Country of Origin:
Toscana, Italy

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties:
54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

Vinification:

Merlot grapes were harvested between 2 – 18 September, Cabernet Franc between 9 – 30 September, Petit Verdot between 17 – 26 September, and, finally, Cabernet Sauvignon between 24 September and 7 October. 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.

Ageing:
The wine then remained in barriques, in Tenuta dell’Ornellaia’s temperature-controlled cellars for about 20 months. After the first 12 months of maturation, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an additional 8 months. After bottling, the wine aged a further 10 months prior to release.

Tasting Notes:
“Ornellaia 2008 represents one of the most classic expressions of the Bolgheri terroir. Fruit of a harvest that was low in quantity but high in concentration, its character reflects both the generous ripeness reached in the first ten days of September as well as the crisp, lively vibrancy encouraged by the cool, breezy days from mid-September through October. Its colour is remarkably intense and deep, while the nose offers stunningly rich, ripe fruit tones, alongside the classic balsamic and tobacco notes with hints of Mediterranean herbs. The palate exhibits immense depth, complex and dense, with tannins that are powerful, but fine-grained, velvety, and racy, giving Ornellaia 2008 a sensation of impressive solidity. A vintage with good aging potential.”