2020 Ornellaia

98 POINTS

James Suckling

Alluring aromas of lead pencil and currants with crushed stone and iodine. Full-bodied with hemmed in tannins that are tight and focused. Very fresh and energetic with wonderful length and intensity for this vintage. Needs four or five years to come together. Better in 2028 and onwards.

97 POINTS

Aldo Fiordelli - Decanter

Ornellaia 2020 shows an outstanding balance between suppleness and structure. Each grape variety and individual block were vinified separately in stainless steel and concrete tanks, followed by maceration for about 15 days, for a total time in the vat of about three weeks. The malolactic fermentation took place mainly in oak barrels, 70% new and 30% used once. After the first 12 months of maturation in barriques, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an additional six months. Purple in the glass and concentrated yet very restrained, dark cassis emerges above leafy kiwi peel and citrussy hints. There's some lightness on the palate, with velvety tannins and a savoury yet youthful character. The finish is lively, super-fresh and grainy, and the alcohol is integrated well. Graphite and ‘Early morning’ pipe tobacco enhance the aftertaste.

96 POINTS

Falstaff

Rich, vibrant ruby with purple hues. Very open and approachable nose, clearly defined fruit of dark ripe currant, blueberry and cardamom, then subtle balsamic notes. Shows lush dark berry fruit on the palate, then dense tannin, a bit bold on the back end, finishing with tobacco and vanilla.

96 POINTS

Falstaff

Rich, vibrant ruby colour with purple hues. Very open and approachable nose, clearly defined fruit, nuances of dark ripe currants, blueberries and cardamom, subtle balsamic notes in the echo. Shows lush dark berries on the palate, then dense tannins, a bit bold on the backpalate, tobacco and vanilla on the finish.

96 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2020 Ornellaia is a gorgeous, elegant wine. Seamless and wonderfully deep on the palate, the 2020 is super-refined from the outset. Even with all of its depth, the 2020 retains terrific freshness and cut to play off its soft, succulent fruit. Overall, the 2020 looks to be a relatively accessible Ornellaia that will drink well with minimal cellaring. I especially admire the precision and understated finesse here.

95 POINTS

Monica Larner - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It opens to an impenetrable, full-bodied approach with dark fruit, pencil shaving, toasted oak, Spanish cedar, campfire ash and iron ore. For sure, this is an especially concentrated and oak-driven vintage of this iconic wine. It absolutely requires more aging time. It feels quite tight and firm in its youth. The concentration is abundant.

95 POINTS

Monica Larner - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Tasted from barrel, the 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be presented in the fall but won’t hit the market until spring of the following year. This is a beauty, so generous and opulent with fully seamless transitions. The wine’s traditional blend is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with tiny percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, although this warm vintage makes due with a pinch less of the Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit is selected across 107 hectares of Ornellaia vines, although the estate recently purchased an additional eight hectares next to Guado al Tasso in Castagneto Carducci, with terraces and vines aged between 15 and 28 years old. This broad and generous expression has a beautiful quality of fruit and oak that speaks to the very best of Italian winemaking.

95 POINTS

Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW - Decanter

The last four vintages have seen Ornellaia Bianco become 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Pressed and fermented directly into oak barrels ranging from 225 to 600 litres (25% new), it's fermented then aged, with occasional battonage, for 10 months in oak before bottling. Delicate aromas of passionfruit, stone fruit, and a hint of wood spice lead to a creamy texture in the mouth with a good degree of fruit concentration. Zesty notes of lemon peel along with tart acidity give the wine backbone and structure. Drinking well now, but could age for another five to 10 years. 8,000 bottles produced, up from 4,000.