Winemaking is ingrained in the family of Marchese Lodovico Antinori. His brother is at the helm of the Antinori family business, and his uncle owns the adjacent Tenuta San Guido. Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is located in Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy. In 1981, Lodovico built his modern winery and planted Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc. The soil type is similar to that of the Saint-Émilion grapes in Bordeaux, which is very beneficial for the grapes. The philosophy revolves around an obsession with excellence. Every choice is absolutely crucial, and every detail is taken into account. No shortcuts are permitted or tolerated at any point in the production process, and this is how the winery succeeds in harvesting grapes of the highest quality, regardless of the climatic conditions of that particular year.
The blend consists of 50 percent Sangiovese, 30 percent Merlot, and 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and originates from the region around Bolgheri. The different varieties were fermented separately in small steel tanks to preserve their varietal characteristics. Alcoholic fermentation was followed by malolactic fermentation, again in steel tanks. The wine was then aged for 10 months, partly in barriques used for Ornellaia and partly in cement tanks, to achieve the perfect balance between tannic structure and an expression of fresh fruit.
The aroma is intense and sultry, with notes of cherries and other ripe red fruits and jam. A deliciously juicy, elegant attack with ripe red fruit, plums, and blackberries, a certain firmness still remains, with good tannins, beautifully ripe and balanced, incredibly seductive. It ends with a fresh and lively finish.
