Ornellaia - Bianco

94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Ornellaia - Bianco - 2016 - 75cl - Onshore Cellars

Ornellaia - Bianco

94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
Vintage
Size
Regular price £293.00
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This wine that once featured Viognier in the blend, is now 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The 2020 Ornellaia Bianco is quite tropical and generous in personality with immediate aromas of papaya, Golden Delicious apple and crushed stone. The wine is beautifully textured and long lasting. I asked if Vermentino might ever feature in this blend (to bring in a Tuscan grape), but the answer is no for now. Vermentino already plays a role in the estate’s very popular entry-level Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia. Viognier is being cut because the grape is difficult, and if you don’t hit the harvest date just right, it can appear flabby and waxy.
Made with 81% Sauvignon Blanc and 19% Viognier, the Ornellaia 2019 Ornellaia Bianco is fragrant and fresh, but the wine also shows a rather robust side with extra concentration. This is a hallmark of the vintage, and you even notice it in the distinctive light golden hue that shines prettily from the glass. To the nose, the wine displays a summery set of aromas with stone fruit, ripe peach, midnight jasmine and a touch of fragrant beeswax. There is some density to the otherwise streamlined mouthfeel, with white almond flavors on the close and an elegant touch of crushed stone or chalk. This 2019 vintage is poised for more years of bottle age.
The 2018 Ornellaia Bianco is mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a complementary 15% addition of Viognier for added structure and textural support. This vintage shows the usual understated or slightly reserved character that we've seen in past editions. With a little prodding and swirling, the bouquet opens gradually to reveal a pretty assortment of d'Anjou pear, white peach, honeysuckle and toasted almond. The wine is fermented in oak, but malolactic fermentation does not occur. There are pretty dustings of saffron and crushed stone that hint at the evolution and elegance to come with extra time in the bottle. This wine was just released in May 2021.
The previous vintage of this wine was made soley with Sauvignon Blanc, but as expected, the Ornellaia 2017 Ornellaia Bianco sees a small percentage of Viognier added to the blend. The exact percentage of the two components is 91% Sauvignon Blanc and 9% Viognier. If you are a fan of these grape varieties, as I am, this wine will appeal to all your basic pleasure points. Showing medium rich concentration and a creamy textural fiber, it reveals some of the weight that we associated with this hot and dry vintage. However, any trace of over-ripeness is mitigated by the cool soils that, in this case, consist of deep calcarious clay broken up by rocks at a breezy 80 to 100 meters above sea level. This consistency is perfect for locking in moisture even in drought vintages. The wine is fermented in oak, but no malolactic fermentation occurs, and the wine instead rests on the fine lees with frequent stirring. Orchard fruits and Cavaillon melon give the wine a sturdy center of gravity. Some 5,000 bottles were made, and this wine was released in April 2020.
The 2016 Ornellaia Bianco is a beguiling wine, even a bit deceptive when you get down to facts. This is indeed the central part of its irresistible charm. For one, this edition is a mono-variety wine made solely with Sauvignon Blanc. (The other protagonist of the blend, Viognier, is said to return in 2017.) However, the complexity of the bouquet could mistakenly make you think the blend is more intricate. You get white rose, crisp apple, saffron, toasted pine nut, cinnamon and wild sage. The aromas show brilliant detailing. In addition, the wine is expansive and creamy in terms of mouthfeel. However, none of the whites at Ornellaia—including this wine—undergo malolactic fermentation, though the creamy and richly textured mouthfeel might lead you to conclude otherwise. This classic vintage is especially generous and rich. The wine does see barrique aging, but only a third of the wood is new. Those spicy endnotes serve to frame the beautiful fruit that sits squarely at center stage.
Type:
White
Country:
Italy
Region:
Tuscany
Appellation:
Toscana IGT
Producer:
Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia
Grapes/Blend:
Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier
ABV:
13.5%
Pairing Sugesstions:
Shellfish, Lobster, White Fish, Chicken, Pasta Dishes, Cream, Hard Cheeses

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Behind the bottle

Our collection of Ornellaia - Find this at Onshore Cellars your yacht wine supplier

Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia

One of Italy's most iconic producers, Ornellaia is located in Bolgheri which is widely considered to be one of the most exciting wine producing regions in the country....

One of Italy's most iconic producers, Ornellaia is located in Bolgheri which is widely considered to be one of the most exciting wine producing regions in the country. This part of the Tuscan coast benefits from a mild maritime climate and a unique terroir, which combined with great care taken in both the vineyard and winery, are key in the production of these modern and elegant wines.

Ornellaia is a blend of Cabernet and Merlot and every vintage offers an expression of the unique terroir developed in harmony with nature.

For the last ten years, Ornellaia has collaborated with a contemporary artist in its Vendemmia d’Artista project. Each year the artist creates a work of art and a series of limited edition labels drawing inspiration from the single word chosen by the winemaker to describe the character of the new vintage. A series of limited edition bottles are then auctioned for charity.

Interview with Axel Heinz, Estate Director and Winemaker

How did you find the 2015 vintage?

After the unusual 2014, the 2015 vintage proved to be very regular, almost ‘textbook’ like. After a normal, rainy, mild winter, spring was characterized by dry and sunny weather. July will be remembered as particularly scorching and dry. Luckily rain came around the 10th of August. The abundant precipitation allowed the grapes to continue ripening, also bringing a much cooler weather during the final stages. This cool yet sunny weather persisted throughout the harvest, allowing us to pick very slowly, combining a fresh and lively aromatic quality with a perfect phenolic maturation with abundant yet silky and soft tannins 

How do you go about choosing a word to describe each vintage for the Vendemmia d’Artista project, including 2015’s ‘Il Carisma’?

It is an interesting exercise, but very simple for the 2015 vintage. Like people of great ‘Carisma’ (Charisma), wines of great vintages know how to impose themselves naturally, without force, their balance allowing them to shine without having to flaunt themselves.

How much money have you raised for charity since the project was started in May 2009?

Almost 2 Million Euros to the best museums in the world.

Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia
Our collection of Tuscany - Find this at Onshore Cellars your yacht wine supplier

Tuscany

Italy's most ancient wine region, Tuscany may not be a heavyweight in terms of quantity, but as the home of two of the country's most famous...
Italy's most ancient wine region, Tuscany may not be a heavyweight in terms of quantity, but as the home of two of the country's most famous fine wines – Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino – it certainly holds its own in terms of quality. Tuscany's climate ranges from Mediterranean on the coast to continental deep in the Apennines. More than two thirds of the province is covered with hills, an important terroir factor in its fine wines.
Explore Tuscany
A row of tall, slender trees stands on a misty hillside, with sunlight streaming through, creating a tranquil and picturesque landscape.

Toscana IGT

Toscana IGT is a wine appellation located in the central region of Italy, known for producing some of the finest wines in the world. The history of winemaking...

Toscana IGT is a wine appellation located in the central region of Italy, known for producing some of the finest wines in the world. The history of winemaking in Toscana dates back to the Etruscan era, and the region has been producing wine for over 3,000 years. The appellation is home to some of the most famous wine regions in Italy, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.

The style of production in Toscana IGT is heavily influenced by the region's climate and soil. The appellation is characterized by a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The soil is predominantly clay and limestone, which provides excellent drainage and mineral content for the vines. The grapes grown in Toscana IGT include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, among others.

The typical wines produced in Toscana IGT are red wines, with Sangiovese being the most widely planted grape variety. The wines are known for their rich, full-bodied flavors, with notes of cherry, plum, and spice. The tannins are firm and well-structured, providing a long, lingering finish. The wines are often aged in oak barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the flavor profile.

One of the most famous wines from Toscana IGT is Chianti, which is made from Sangiovese grapes. Chianti is known for its bright, fruity flavors, with notes of cherry, raspberry, and violet. The wine is typically aged in oak barrels, which adds a subtle vanilla and spice flavor to the wine. Another famous wine from Toscana IGT is Brunello di Montalcino, which is made from 100% Sangiovese grapes. Brunello di Montalcino is known for its rich, full-bodied flavors, with notes of black cherry, leather, and tobacco. The wine is aged for at least four years, which gives it a complex, layered flavor profile.

In conclusion, Toscana IGT is a wine appellation that has a rich history of winemaking and produces some of the finest wines in the world. The style of production is heavily influenced by the region's climate and soil, and the grapes grown in Toscana IGT include Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, among others. The typical wines produced in Toscana IGT are red wines, with Sangiovese being the most widely planted grape variety. The wines are known for their rich, full-bodied flavors, with notes of cherry, plum, and spice, and are often aged in oak barrels, which adds complexity and depth to the flavor profile.

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