VIP Chinese love Italian wine, especially Tuscan wine from the coast, and last year of RCR's clients longed to visit the Ornellaia estate.
When several coincidences come together it also takes a good dose of luck, and my luck is called my friend Donna del Vino and sommelier Paola Rastelli who, while I was in Frankfurt for the international trade fair Ambiente, arranged a visit and tasting for clients in no time.
To my delight, I accompanied the distinguished guests on the fantastic wine tour to Bolgheri.
A wonderful day, welcomed by Irene, wonderful hospitality manager who guided us to the discovery of the historic vineyards around the estate and told about the philosophy based on quality and absolute attention to detail. The visit continued in the winery where the very strong connection with contemporary art is evident, which is expressed through the Vendemmia d'Artista project, launched in 2009 with the 2006 vintage, which celebrates the exclusive character of each new Ornellaia vintage: a contemporary artist signs a work of art and a series of limited-edition labels, drawing inspiration from a word chosen by the winemaker that describes the character of the new vintage, and the works of the various artists are located along the tour route. In the barrique cellar, French oak houses and ages the various base wines that give rise to Ornellaia and Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia, the estate's second wine.
The tour ended with a tasting of five labels:
- Poggio alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia 2016, Toscana IGT white: 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Viognier, 10% Vermentino. The vintage has developed breadth and maturity with great and articulate aromatic expression. The nose is classic ripe Sauvignon, grapefruit, passion fruit and white peach. In the mouth it is rich and broad with notes of ripe yellow fruit and honey, with a nice well-balanced acidic texture. The finish is long with aromas of white flowers and almonds.
- Le Volte dell'Ornellaia 2016, Toscana IGT Rosso, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. The vintage represents one of the purest expressions of Le Volte dell'Ornellaia, a wine with a style of great elegance, combining a nose of ripe, heady fruit and a generous mouthfeel with very pleasant vibrant acidity.
- Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2016, Bolgheri DOC Rosso, 44% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 12% Cabernet Franc. The "second" red from Ornellaia, it combines a nose with ripe red fruit and spice perfume and a mouthfeel of velvety tannins with a nice roundness for immediate enjoyment.
- Variations in Red 2015, Toscana IGT Rosso, a blend that. represents the winemaker's experiment and that various every year, a tasting reserved for the winery's guests, in this vintage composed of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Great vintage for Bolgheri with Cabernet Sauvignon reaching one of its noblest expressions, with a bouquet of dark fruits and fine wood and silky tannins: characteristics found in the 2015 Variations in Red.
- Ornellaia 2015, Bolgheri Doc superior red, cuvée of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot. A faithful expression of a unique terroir in harmony with nature with its intense color, it is a wine of great structure and intensity.The nose is ripe and fresh fruit, with balsamic and spicy notes.In the mouth it is rich, dense and broad, with exceptional tannins, velvety and very refined. Long finish that ends in a crescendo of balsamic and spicy notes.
What to say. Have more wine tours cyou dare every day!
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