2016 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, Ornellaia 2016 3000ml

98 POINTS

Monica Larner - Wine Advocate

The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes. This beautiful wine is hitting the market now, but collectors will want to put it straight into their cellars for safekeeping.

98 POINTS

James Suckling

An astoundingly vibrant, powerful and concentrated Ornellaia that has a wealth of intense dark cherries, mulberries and plums with hints of espresso, dark cocoa powder and cedar. The concentrated palate is framed in long, regal tannins that bring focus to the plush, ripe and fresh black cherries and dark plums. Extremely balanced. Best from 2025.

97 POINTS

Richard Baudains - Decanter

An Ornellaia vintage of subdued power, but also great elegance and a certain souplesse which hints at a stylistic evolution at the estate. Plum-pudding and cherry brandy nose, broad palate with feather-cushion tannins and a long and voluptuous finish.

97 POINTS

Aldo Fiordelli - Decanter

Ornellaia 2016 is a top example of this estate in Bolgheri and its legendary longevity will not betray it. Less extracted than in the past, it's more restrained yet perfectly ripe and with a great intensity of aromas. It opens up with spicy notes of clove and nutmeg, followed by brambly fruit and a kind of iodine mineral character in depth, finishing with an amazing length of tobacco. The super-fine, oaky style needs time to integrate with the firm yet velvety tannins and refreshing acidity.

96 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Black currant, plum, cedar, lead pencil and toasty, spicy elements highlight this intense red. Muscular tannins line the extended finish, leaving a peppery impression. The parts are all there but need time to integrate. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2043. 2,500 cases imported.

96 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

Just bottled, the 2016 Ornellaia is a dense, powerful wine. Naturally, the 2016 is just at the beginning of its life, but I am struck by how polished the tannins are for such a young wine. Ornellaia is at its best starting around age ten, but there is little doubt the 2016 is a hugely promising wine. Black cherry, chocolate, plum, new leather and a range of spice notes all build into a veritable crescendo of aromas, flavors and textures.

95 POINTS

Kerin O'Keefe - Wine Enthusiast

Cedar, French oak and cassis aromas follow over to the vibrant palate along with coconut and dried black cherry. Racy acidity lends energy and youthful tension while firm fine-grained tannins offer elegant support. It's still young and primary so it give it time to fully develop. Drink 2024–2036.

Jancis Robinson MW

100% Sauvignon Blanc, hand-harvested during the last week of August in the early hours of the morning. Fermented in barriques ­– 30% new and 70% used at temperatures no higher than 22 °C. No malolactic fermentation was carried out. The ageing continued for 12 months on the lees with periodic bâtonnage and finished in stainless-steel vats for three more months. Aged in bottle for a further six months before release.Quite a deep colour. Lanolin nose and much more savoury and chewy than the 2017. Quite youthful, with quite a bit of chew. Ambitious! Score: 16.5+/20