Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia is among a select group of Super Tuscans that sparked a legendary revolution and a subsequent modern change in the Italian wine industry. Before the famed Bolgheri appellation received DOC status in 1994, a handful of extraordinary Bordeaux varietal blends were only allowed to be sold as “vino da tavola” (the lowest classification of all) by the Italian government. As these Super Tuscans were garnering more international attention than almost any other Italian wine, the functions of government inevitably caught up with sense and logic and they were granted DOC status at last. The first producer to kick the cage was Sassicaia, who holds the only monopole DOC in Italy (Bolgheri Sassicaia); in their company was Tignanello, Solaia and today’s producer, Ornellaia. The vino da tavola revolt inevitably resulted in the creation of a DOC designed to feature international varietals in Tuscany’s Bolgheri region, forcing Sangiovese to share the spotlight.
The vineyards of Ornellaia, planted with Bordeaux clones of elite origin, rest on the coast of Tuscany in the Bolgheri appellation. Thanks to the close proximity to the sea, this charmed location enjoys drastic diurnal shifts that Bordeaux varietals thrive in (warm days and cool nights). The soil is a mixture of alluvial, volcanic and marine soils, which creates an unique hybrid of Tuscan terroir planted to a traditional mix of Bordeaux vines; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. According to the estate, the 2011 Le Serre Nuove, “combines the pedigree of the flagship wine with freshness, accessibility and softness together with a structure, balance and intensity typical of the great terroir of the Estate.” Each varietal is fermented and vinified separately in 25% new and 75% one-year-old French barriques for twelve months. After blending, the wine returns to barrique for an additional 3 months before bottling. Following bottling, the wine is aged for six months prior to release. This particular vintage has enjoyed wide critical acclaim and is a testament to the extraordinary product that is created when the best clones of Bordeaux are planted in the unique soils of Tuscany’s Bolgheri region. This wine is modern, beautifully crafted and quite an experience at a truly fair price considering what you will discover in the bottle.
This exquisite Super Tuscan showcases an opaque, dark ruby core with purple and pink reflections on the rim. The incredibly concentrated and complex nose boasts lush black fruits of blackberry, black cherry, black currants, black plum and a hint of boysenberry laced with fresh violets, wild herbs, mushroom, leather, gravel, pencil lead, cocoa powder, vanilla bean and exotic spices. The full-bodied palate confirms the opulent fruit on the nose alongside flavors of new oak, which are beginning to integrate very well. Cedar, nutmeg and star anise combine with the fruit and strong earth-driven notes for an incredibly layered and well-structured journey which ends with a satisfyingly long finish. This wine is beginning to soften and I would definitely recommend enjoying a bottle in its youth. However, I would advocate putting most of it in the cellar as the wine will be remarkable in 3-5 years; I anticipate its peak at almost a decade away if kept properly. If you choose to enjoy a bottle now, decant for a minimum of two hours, then enjoy in large Bordeaux stems at 60-65 degrees. A wine with this much intensity and structure should ideally be consumed with food. Keep pairings classic and simple to allow this wine to shine.
This Braised Lamb recipe is a spectacular pairing. Enjoy.
