unbelievable line up for the Tuscan '12's. The Redigaffi and the Ornellaia were outstanding. These two were my favorites. BUT, perhaps the revelation was how the Giusto di Notri stood up and took notice in this tasting. Keep your eyes open for that, as it's a fraction of the cost of the other 3. — 8 years ago
Magnum 1984 Heitz Cellar Martha's Vineyard Cab. We decanted this at the start of dinner at Union and drank after the '97 Ornellaia and before the '94 Harlan. This had much less fruit than the Ornellaia- dusty, earthy notes with mineral, eucalyptus, and spice as well. Enjoyed this wine immensely, but it was hard for this to shine as it was sandwiched between the Ornellaia and the Harlan. This wine was great with pasta, but it would have been equally enjoyable to drink without food. — 9 years ago
2001 Tenuto dell' Ornellaia Masseto merlot. Drank during date night at Vincenti. Decanted about an hour before drinking, but it was still massive. It was a gorgeous wine though- full bouquet of fruits and rich tannins. Loved it! — 9 years ago
2000 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru Burgundy. Drank w K and A at the house. I loved this wine. Vanilla and fruit on the nose and very soft edges. Not a long finish tho- very short, but not harsh. Young wine but great. Interesting comp to the 1998 Ornellaia, which was very spicy. — 10 years ago
I don't even have a frame of reference for how incredible this wine is !!! The closest was an Ornellaia I had but that was twenty years ago. Powerful, taut, but balanced. Bought two bottles so I can try one in 10 years or so. — 10 years ago
07' Ornellaia Bolgheri ( Bordeaux blend). Predominately Cabernet. I'm also guessing it's mostly all new oak. Slightly tannic & a little heavy on the oak. That absolutely subsides with a decent decanting . Must decant, so the fruit can move forward in the wine. Layers of elegant & beautiful black fruit, with hints of tobacco & dark chocolate. It just lays on the back of your palate for 30+ seconds. A little more patience/time?? I would love to try this again in 3-5 years. Recommend highly!
I've got to get some more of the great vintages of this! My better half..."We need to get some of this" 😉 — 9 years ago
More poised and elegant than I recall, but in a good way. A good dose of oak but it takes it well as it already seems fairly well integrated.
#ornellaia — 9 years ago
Great but under Guado al tasso and Ornellaia. Could improve with time. — 9 years ago
Eyes: Light + to Medium bodied. Ruby / purple core trailing slightly to the edge of the glass.
Bouquet: Plum, violet with hints of cooked meat, spice, hard raspberry candy and clay.
Palate: Medium bodied with a round, elegant mouth feel. Notes of plum, cherry and flowers are carried by medium acidity and polished tannins. Despite carrying 14.5% ABV, there is absolutely nothing out of place here with the entire drinking experience being harmonious and pure. The length on the finish sails for minutes.
Conclusion: Add this wine to the great Tuscan Merlots like those from Tua Rita, Petrolo and Ornellaia at a savings of at least 30% per bottle. Superb now, this will reward 7 to 10 years of cellar time if you can wait. — 10 years ago
Head pruned / 0.5t acre / single clos vyard / 225(450x6) cases a yr / Av 97pt over last decade / 100pts twice / Ornellaia of Spain / 3 vines = 1 bottle / — 11 years ago
When in Portofino - drink like a worldly Italian!! This wine was a surprise find on my way to buy an ornellaia or chiappini - my two favorite Bolgheri wines with muscle AND finesse in the glass. This wine is from a cooler region in Italy however the Cabernet and Merlot could not have been shown better. There is pepper on the palette but otherwise the perfect balance and structure of these Bordeaux varietals. There is leather on the front end, and the acidity and lower alcohol made this wine a great addition to our meal. A guaranteed winner of any blind tasting!! — 8 years ago
Tasted blind:
Med+ intensity, lots of black fruits, stewed cherries, cherry pie, underlying new oak, beginning to just show some tertiary character.
Palate was ripe, med+ tannin, med acidity. Similar flavors on the palate. A bit of black pepper and cinnamon. Good finish.
Initial conclusions were either a a high quality southern Rhone producer, possibly Languedoc (Mas Du Mas Gassac), perhaps a Minervois, an Italian super Tuscan (similar to 'Ornellaia), Napa (in a cooler vintage) and only was Bordeaux a final guess! — 8 years ago
Big and powerful with 15% alcohol. Dark cherry, cassis, leather, and earth predominate with nice tannic structure. Estate borders Ornellaia but not quite as good in my opinion. — 9 years ago
At Camerata...without Mr Keck. Hope that Ornellaia tasting is good my friend. — 9 years ago
Its a Super Tuscan without paying for the label of Tignanello or Ornellaia or Sassechaia.. Don't care about spelling. — 10 years ago
GUADOAL TASSO BRUCIATO 2013 TOSCANA, CAB 20% MERLOT 15% SYRAH Guado a Tasso estate owned by italian super power Antinori 50 miles SW of Florence in Bolgheri by the sea. Bolgheri became known for being the birthplace of Super Tuscans (wines using mainly international varietal like cabernet sauvignon ,merlot, cab franc and syrah )about 50 yrs ago when the benchmark SASSICAIA was first created. Since then the area has been growing immensely producing some great expensive wines( Sassicaia, Ornellaia , Masseto) but also some affordable easy drinking ones like BRUCIATO that encloses softness of the smell of the breeze that touches Bolgheri and its hills is expressed in the glass with a deep ruby red and hints of cherry, blackberry and sweet spices. In the mouth ,is elegant and cozy ,thanks to a delicate softness , also due to the refinement of 12 months in new oak barrels and nice spice and delicate aromas The nose is dominated by intense notes of ripe red berry fruit and complementary aromas of sweet spices and coffee.Ample and
balanced on the palate,the wine shows silky tannins along with a sweet and spicy finish and aftertaste. — 10 years ago
I would need a glass of Ornellaia next to it to be able to compare... — 11 years ago
Two beautiful wines ., as we poured them in the glasses Sammarco was very expressive while Ornellaia showed quite austere, compact and monolithic. Sammarco opened quickly with delicate scents of white flowers, rose petals, tobacco, minerals, olives, and a fresh vibrant mouth feel. Ornellaia stayed austere for at least 30 min, but then it started to wake up with timid notes of oriental spices, cider box, saddle leather, graphite, wild cherries, cassis and licorice. Suddenly Ornellaia intensity increases exponentially, with broader complexity, sweet tobacco, chocolate powder, mint, clove. Sammarco stayed stable with a lighter structure in a very pretty, elegant expressive state. After one hour Sammarco started to lose intensity, flattens a bit it's freshness and turns to a slight simplicity. At the end of the dinner, with just a little wine in the glass Ornellaia was still growing and increasing complexity. We should have had a magnum! — 12 years ago
Chris England
Ornellaia white @ £43 that’s perfect w/ food
🐔 Paired w/ Mrs E’s Chicken & leek pie n mash
🍇 80% Sauv Blanc, 10% Viognier & 10% Vermentino
🍷 Golden straw
👃 Standing in a waterfall being beaten by tropical fruits from above & covered in honey goo w/ a Pina colada slap, green apple shards & crushed rock minerals
👄 Med+ gloopy honeyed tropical fruits w/ vanilla & green banana tones
🎯 Med+ minerally dry finale w/ a stick honey tropical tingle — 7 years ago