Ornellaia 2013 - Marchesi Antinori - Bolgheri Superiore - Tuscany

Ornellaia 2011 – Tenuta dell'Ornellaia: The Solar Power of a Mythical Super Tuscan

Cuvée Presentation: The Bolgheri Masterpiece

Founded in 1981 by Marquis Lodovico Antinori and now under the prestigious Frescobaldi family, Tenuta dell'Ornellaia is one of the most emblematic estates in the Italian wine region. Located on the Tuscan coast, the estate takes its name from the "ornello" (flowering ash), a wild tree ubiquitous in this exceptional terroir. Classified as Bolgheri DOC Superiore, Ornellaia is a Bordeaux-inspired blend of rare nobility, uniting Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Renowned worldwide for its complexity, density, and sovereign balance, this vintage embodies the pinnacle of Super Tuscans.

Winemaking and Aging Secrets: Detailed Craftsmanship

To achieve this level of perfection, Maison Ornellaia applies a tailor-made winemaking protocol of surgical precision:

• Harvest & Sorting: Grapes are hand-picked into 15 kg crates, then subjected to a rigorous double manual sorting (before and after destemming) before gentle crushing.
• Parcel Fermentation: Each grape variety and each parcel are vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks (between 26 and 30 °C) for two weeks, followed by a skin maceration of 10 to 15 days.
• Malolactic Fermentation: Carried out primarily in oak barrels (70% new barrels and 30% one-wine barrels).
• Aging in Wood & Blending: The wine ages for 18 months in barrels in the estate's temperature-controlled cellars. After the first 12 months of maturation, the wines from each parcel are blended, and then the wine returns to the barrels for an additional 6 months of refinement.
• Maturity in Bottle: Once bottled, the wine rests for another 12 months in the estate's cellars before being released for sale.

2011 Vintage: The Infinite Generosity of a Great Solar Vintage

Named "L'Infinita" by the estate's team, the 2011 vintage stands out for its richness and sumptuous maturity. Benefiting from a hot and bright summer on the Bolgheri coast, this bottle offers ample, fleshy, and coated material, supported by velvety tannins of great softness. Ripe, complex, and incredibly harmonious, this Ornellaia 2011 is at its peak, offering a memorable and warm tasting experience.

Conservation Status and Provenance

• Provenance: Private cellar of a great Swiss connoisseur (impeccable temperature-controlled storage).
• Liquid Level: Perfect (at the neck, original level).
• Color: Dark and deep ruby red with brilliant garnet nuances.
• Label: Intact, clean, and perfectly preserved original label.
• Capsule & Cork: Sealed, impeccable original capsule.
• Overall Impression: Bottle in impeccable condition, ready for high-end tasting.

Aromatic Profile and Gastronomic Pairings

On the nose, Ornellaia 2011 unfolds a rich and warm bouquet of stewed dark fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), dark chocolate, roasted coffee, cedar, soft leather, and Mediterranean spices. On the palate, the texture is suave, dense, and enveloping, stretching with remarkable persistence. Purchase this exceptional bottle to accompany a braised Chianina beef, a rack of lamb roasted with rosemary, or wild game.