Level up wine - 21 years and a lot to say. That’s what Bordeaux blend means: tannins perfectly integrated and alright level of acidity. Herbs and spices aromas are dominant. That’s always an experience
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Ornellaia Dinner (Stefani Prime - Lincolnwood IL): Double blind in what turned out to be an Ornellaia vertical, which I correctly identified as an Italian Bordeaux blend. Also big, bold, and tannic, but this vintage was softer and tastier, even if I found the textures ever-so-slightly grainy.
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March Madness Wine Tasting: Served blind. I called it as an '04 Solaia. Nevertheless, this screams, I am a Super Tuscan from Bolgheri. Incredible nose with eucalyptus, oak, and some sweetness of Cabernet Sauv. on the finish.
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Very much in its drinking window but a long life ahead. Big wine but alcohol is in balance with deep blue/black fruit and firm but smooth tannins. Bramble, lead pencil, fruit, and kirsh. Decanted an hour and did not notice the funky quality referred to in other notes. Like a fine medoc from a good but shy vintage.
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opened for 1 hour then decanted and served. Very minty, smoky, black fruits. The alcohol was more apparent on the nose, and initially the wine felt a little more closed. Showed better about 2½ hours after opening, and turned out very nice and elegant. About 3½ hours after opening there were additional notes of coffee. While this was more shy at first, by the end of the evening this had clearly surpassed the Solaia and showing better.
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Started with some barnyard funk on the nose. The funk mostly blew off after an hour, but the nose stayed retrained. The taste was classic Bordeaux Super Tuscan. A little on the ripe side, but felt young.
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Opened and slow ox. Chilled a bit in the fridge to soften the ripeness. But still…. Decadent and very ripe, too ripe, indistinct. A bit too Jammy rather than plush unfortunately.
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Unfortunately not a great bottle, fruit was a little stewed, possibly from poor storage conditions. Still very enjoyable but disappointing considering the high expectations I had.
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I had this on Friday night when Travis was here. Also smoked a Hoyo de Monterey at 64% humidity. Fantastic wind and I’m starting to realize I like something that is mixed especially with a Merlot in it. Opus One and Pavie
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Aromas of dark red fruit, blueberries, blackberries, smoke, dark chocolate, toasted cedar, and a touch of flinty smoke. Medium plus body, with slightly drying tannins, stewed black and dark red fruit, light acidity, a smidge unbalanced but good stuffing and structure. Finish is long, tight and youthful. Moderate upside from here but will take some time and patience. 92-93
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This was a really great tasting wine. Didn't seem Italian at all, but I am not super-Tuscan guy. The first give-away was how it was so much less acidic than most traditional Tuscan Sangiovese-based wines. Given that, I still thought it was absolutely delicious and in the vein of a right bank Bordeaux in a luscious fruit-focused year, which it really was. None of this is a problem, but just that it is a different style. Based on other reviews, this is a well-made wine for such a hot year and will keep aging well for a while.
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Part of a Super Tuscan night consumed along side a ‘00 Solaia and ‘01 Sassicaia. Considering this was the youngest wine, it actually drank the most mature. Very mellow and approachable right out of the gate. Definitely had some cooked fruits in here with silky smooth tannins. Wasn’t the most complex wine of the night but opened up a Serre Nuove alongside it for comparison and the Ornellaia still blew it out of the water (just to maintain the context of how nice the wines were that night). Ready to drink... don’t know if it really gets better with age from here. Maybe it was storage but ‘03 was not as much of an aging year.
Very good wine with plenty of power left. Medium garnet. Clean nose of pronounced intensity, aromas of raisins, black cherry, toast, chocolate, mushrooms, flint. Fully developed wine. Palate: dry, medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, full body, pronounced flavors of cooked black fruit, bitter chocolate, minerals, prunes. Finish is very satisfying and long. Very good wine, in its prime now, can withstand a few more years in the bottle.
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Big red fruit, tobacco, chocolate, forest floor. Benefitted from time in the decanter and glass. 2 hours seemed about the right time before you drink. Excellent full-bodied Super Tuscan.
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Hot, ripe and impenetrable for the first 2 hours. But as it opened up a cooler character emerged with liquorice, coffee grounds and dark chocolate dominant. After 3 hours some mellower fruit (prunes) was showing and was drinking open by then. Paired nicely with some Keen’s cheddar and VSOP gouda. Another 5-10 years in the cellar should tame this beast.
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Un Super Toscan musclé pour aller avec notre traditionnel festin pour le SUPER-BOWL avec les Fouduvin DE l’ESTRIE, Bulle, Headless, FrançoisD, MikeLM et Meursault. Le Blanc, les Champagne et les rouges pour accompagner l’orgie de bouffe….mousses au homard, crabe et truite, craquelins divers, canapé, des terrines de canard, lapin , gibier, les jambons, brisket, viande fumée, Prosciutto, canard fumée, saucissons et sans oublier les fromages Québéquois dont, le Bleu d’Élizabeth, Le pionnier, Louis d’or, Le Champayeur et la Religieuse de la Fromagerie du Presbytère, Alfred le Fermier, Comtomme et Chemin Hatley de la Fromagerie La Station ainsi que 2 importations, le Comté 12 mois et le Gouda 24 mois. Pour aller avec les liquoreux, des blocs de foie gras et les crêmes brulées au chocolat et safran d’Iran!!! Le plus dense et intense des rouges, bu en dernier, par chance. Nez fragrant qui embaume, réglisse noir, fruits rouges et tabac. En bouche, beaucoup d'anis et de prunes, c'est ample et corsé. Les tannins sont charnus et la finale longue montre tout juste une pointe de chauffe. En a encore pas mal sous la pédale.
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Very dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.
Great nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, wet leaves, leather, mushrooms, eucalyptus, peppercorn, vegetables, green pepper, tobacco leaf and spices.
Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a great Italian, Cabernet Based, Super Tuscan. Nicely balanced with great complexity. A little hot at the back of the throat still, which will probably go away in the next 5 years.
This 16 year old has a beautiful nose that you can smell on for hours (which I did). Reminds me of a nicely aged Left Bank Bordeaux.
We let it open up for 4 hours. Tannins come in only after 4 hours, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. A great quality wine.
Robert Parker 93 points.
I paired it with cheeses and crackers. Was great with the triple cream truffle Brie cheese.
Delightful and elegant. Tasty and delicious.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in (70% new) French oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
96 points.
$200.
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Black fruits, currants, liquorice, sweet spices, mocha, tobacco, figs. Rather ripe and warm, the jammy-ness comes through. Long finish. Velvety tannins. Overall a good bottle of Ornellaia, although the experience was slightly tampered by the tad of sweetness. Open now
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Bought this from a wine store in Santa Barbara and then took it to restaurant for dinner.
What great juice. This is drinking perfectly right now. Out of this world tannins. Got better over 4 hour it took me to drink it. Great barnyard funk with plenty of fruit and acidity.
I have a bottle of this in my cellar and look forward to drinking it.
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First of a case. Big beautiful Bordeaux Blend. Nose has hints of forest floor, dried leaves, cigar box. Palate full of deep red fruit, cocoa, spices, currants. The finish is long and you can taste the tannins which are beautifully integrating. Easily 10+ years left in this. It’s in a perfect spot right now.
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WOTN for our group, decanted an hr or so, beautiful dark fruit nose, very fresh, modern style, done very well, very youthful both in appearance and taste, has plenty of time, short decant if drinking now.
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This is definitely a good wine but I think it's overpriced for what it is. Imo, it tastes much more like a California, heavy cab rather than a Bordeaux. For the money, I'd prefer second and third growth Bordeaux wines but if you enjoy the new world style, this wine will not disappoint. It's in its prime drinking window now. I recommend drinking within the next four years. Give it a solid two to three hour decant.
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Sweet and modern and succulent red berries. Thats one half. The other half is tannic. Two sides of a coin. Not integrated. Not one side. But one coin. Wow.
Chicka chichkah. Bomp bomp.
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Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Krachtig, stoer bouquet. Complex en harmonieus. Kersen, tabak, cederhout, leer. Na verloop van tijd ook wat marmite en soja. Smaak / Afdronk: Wow, briljante wijn. Friszure start, krachtige tannines, dik-sap, geweldig mooie concentratie. Enerzijds geweldig rijp, anderzijds nog volop kracht en concentratie. Prachtige balans. Algemeen / potentieel: Briljante Super-Tuscan. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 94/100
Google Translate:
i] Color: Deep dark red Aroma / bouquet: Powerful, tough bouquet. Complex and harmonious. Cherries, tobacco, cedar, leather. Over time, some marmite and soy. Taste / Finish: Wow, brilliant wine. Fresh start, strong tannins, thick juice, great concentration. On the one hand it is very ripe, on the other hand there is still plenty of strength and concentration. Beautiful balance. General / potential: Brilliant Super-Tuscan. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 18 + General / potential: 9 = 94/100
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Staring to come into its stride. I prefer the single grape/vineyard wines for more specific terroir notes but this is high on the blend list. Notes of chocolate, deep red berry and a hint of smoke. Balance tannins and alcohol give it structure. Nose is still a bit closed but more patient decanting or drinking may have allowed it to open.
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Ripe, lush, sweet, forward, supple textured and ready for its prime time drinking window. There is no touch of heat, or over jammy qualities to the wine, just, sweet, round, very ripe fruits, with a low acid, fleshy profile.
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Tasted blind...A big wine, deep color, definite Bordeaux varietals in this glass. Sweetness on the finish... Had this not been an Italian wine dinner, I might have even gone new world on it. Drinking much better than I expected from '03 vintage.
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We had a couple of bottles at a private dinner. The host received a few cases through her divorce settlement. Unfortunately she didn't get decent glasses out of that, serving them in some shabby old cristal ones that opened up at the top. That way it was hard to catch the nose, which is one of the best things about Ornellaia, methinks. Nevertheless, agree with most people in here, a great Bolgheri. Highlights: smoke, dark berries, soft tannins, powerful on the palate. Still think this would be even better in 3 to 5 years. The woman should have waited with that divorce.
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A private tasting and dinner (Doorn, NL): A blend of 60% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet France, 15% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Has a clear kinship with the Masseto 1999 that followed in its initial terroir expression, quite tarry and sweet but in an attractive way, confit fruits, spicy, rounded and rich but still well-balanced and with sufficient freshness and structure, hint of greenness in the tannins, good minerality, good length. Makes the most of its difficult vintage. Very enjoyable now but not for the long term.
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Phoenix Society chez moi: Wonderful showing, but I feel the wine needs more time. Aromas of soy, vanilla, black fruits. On the palate, the fruit is a little subdued against what was expected, but the wine was a pleasure to enjoy. Alas, my only bottle; beautiful showing. In prime time in 5 years for those who have some (envy, envy).
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Dark crimson color. Nose of roasted plum, black currant, balsamic, smoked meat, and cigar box. Similar flavors on the palate with ripe, dark berry fruit, cassis, some meaty flavors and a bit of tobacco. Savory, umami laden finish. Medium+ acid, medium tannins with a silky mouthfeel. Finish could have been a bit longer but overall I loved this wine.
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Très beau vin, encore bien en vie. Nez sur les prunes, la fumée et l'élevage. En bouche, cassis, chocolat et de beau tannins fins. Finale assez longue. Puissance et élégance, excellent.
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This wine was soft with subtle tannins...very nice, not overly complex this evening...paired with veal and cherry peppers...peppers over powering...if blind would not have guessed italian...
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Double Blind $80 - $100 (Bin 75): Darker core with reddish rim; soy, red fruit, cherry, currant, orange oil; resolving tannin, prunes, liqueur, cherry, currant, intense; nose suggests this wine is fading a bit though palate was better.
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Decanted for two hours. Served with beef tenderloin and port wine reduction sauce with mushrooms. Pairing was ideal. Fabulous nose, fruit forward, long finish and the beautiful complexity that Petit verdot delivers. Thought the wine was fabulous. The only thing holding it back from a higher score was it is balance. A bit strong on the acidity that prevents it from being fully integrated and smooth.
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Very tight cork. Double decanted for an hour, drank over 2 more. Not as viscous in the glass as anticipated due to vintage, and no real signs of age; just barely maroon around the edge. Ripe (!) nose of blackberry, black licorice, maybe cloves. On the tongue, luckily not as ripe as the nose would have indicated. A very nice balanced effort of charcoal, tinderbox\pencil, and black plums. Tannins are very fine, and finish perfectly with an acidic backbone that ensures this vintage doesn't come across too port-like. Bravo.
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WOTN without question -- easy to drink, crowd pleasing, and juat all around terrific. Not a massive mouthful, but smooth and delicious in the most classic way possible. Medium bodied balanced red fruit nose followed by a caressing palate of sweet berries with a slightly burnt caramel overtone. Not a massive finish, but might be lack of time from bottle to glass. Not decanted. Will last another 5-10 years with ease, but probably won't improve.
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My first Ornellaia ever and initial bottle from my '03-'10 vertical. Decanted for four hours and it needed every minute of it. Continued to improve throughout the evening, even after the lengthy decanting. An attractive, opaque crimson in color. Has a powerful, complex nose of spice, cedar, crushed berries, flowers and earth. Full-bodied and beautifully polished. The mouth feel is akin to liquid velvet. A tidal wave of ripe raspberry, blackberry, and dark currant fruit immediately saturates the palate. The depth, breadth and concentration here are nothing short of amazing. The long, long finish is just dripping with delicious, ripe fruit. Impeccably balanced. Just ever-so-slightly jammy and over ripe - which costs the wine a bit in terms of complexity - but this is to be expected for the vintage. Nonetheless, a phenomenal wine. So full and rich, yet incredibly elegant and refined. Worth every penny. Can't wait to see what the "better" vintages are like. 50+5+13+18+9=95
10h double decant a la Bordelaise. Full body red with minor bricking on the edge. This has a big bold brooding nose that is port-like with raisined raspberries, licorice, notes of truffle, and some heat and mint in the back. Palate is velvety in the entry, lots of loamy earth, good minerality, decent cool blue fruits, wrapped in sweet alcoholic big tannins that retain the flavor in the mouth. This expansive wine finishes medium with sweet tannins and dried tiny fruits. This great terroir shone through the torrid 2003 vintage in supplementing this otherwise port-of-a-wine, with solid complexity and depth. This was a wine to enjoy young. A wine deserving of my 300th TN on cellartracker!
One of those rare wines that when you bring it to your nose and take your first sip, all you can say is WOW! Dark ruby in color. Black fruits and floral elements on a beautiful nose. Delicious palate of cherry, blackberry, cassis, earth, tobacco and cedar. Great balance with a long finish. Not a drop of tannin. A fabulous wine.
Deep, dark purple core fading very slightly to light purple rim. Color-wise, no real sign of age. Plum, blackberry and cherry, slight tobacco on the nose. Medium plus tannins. Lots of ripe fruit cherry, cassis on the palate. Very long finish. Lots of life left in this one.
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Opened, decanted and drank over 1 hour. This was a big wine and very ripe, almost too ripe. Broad, expansive palate and but still singular with undeveloped bright red fruit. Long, someone alcoholic finish. Would like to try again in a few years.
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Silky Bordeax like blend. Very impressed with the softness of this wine, showing much older, but still intact for its age.. A pleasant surprisefull of dark cherry on palate and nose. Based on bottle we had, not sure if will age much better.
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30mins of decanting. Still not in full balance with lots of un-integrated oak. nothing harsh. Good extraction and lots of ripe fruit. But the oak overshadows a lot at this stage and flattens out the complexity. We suggest one waits. 91-92
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RG's Birthday at Refuel Deep purple, Heavy viscosity, high alcohol content Big heavy juice bomb with underlaying structure that comes through as the wine breathes-could use a little more lay down time Very long finish
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Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet: Dark red and drynose - classic bordeaux (in the French style) with not much discernable fruit. Lengthy finish - would be great with a juicy steak. Clearly has the body and tannins to take on any big meal. Decanted for 8 hours before tasting.
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Decanted for 30 min. Very balanced bouquet. A bit dry in the back of the throat, but no tannins on the side of the tongue. Great to drink now - not a must to keep in the cellar. Great balance between acidity and tannins. Quite long aftertaste. Very enjoyable!
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Truly an amazing wine and my father's day treat, but not the greatest QPR when you consider the outstanding second label 'Le Serre Nuove' is a 3rd of the price and almost as good - Dark, full bodied with a nose of plum, black fruit, cigar box, spice, mocha and vanilla, extremely well made and balanced, interesting, incredibly silky smooth on the palate with great length, stunning (94 Points).
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Beautiful wine, this. Opened from magnum and decanted for 30 mins, the gorgeous nose was replete with black fruit, cigar box, cedar and dark chocolate. Slightly lighter-bodied than I expected (which was absolutely fine by me), the vibrant fruit and silky tannins were terrifically integrated. Some folks may like their wines to have a bit more "sense of place", but it takes a real grinch to find any serious fault with the '03 Ornellaia.
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I loved this. Dark fruit with licorice, spice and coffee on the nose. This is fairly modern and almost like a new world wine. Black and blue fruits, well integrated fine tannins. A little lighter bodied than I expected. A great wine with a really nice balance of acidity, fruit and tannins. I wish I had a bunch more of these but I have one left that I will open in about 5 years.
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Classy nose that comes across like a fine Margaux from a warm vintage. Black creamy ripe fruits with nice cedar aroma. Smooth rich black fruits with sweet tannin structure that fades into long anise finish. Velvety mouth feel with great sense of purity throughout. Fruit is masculine, but feel is feminine, so maybe a metro-sexual wine. Still a young fruit forward wine, but drinking quite nicely and improving with each pour. Many years of fine drinking left here, but not sure it has acid structure to gain complexity with more age. A crowd pleasing wine, that shows breed. Would be fun for a blind tasting as high quality Bordeaux ringer.
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Splash decant. Deep, complex and extremely concentrated nose of powerful sweet black fruit, tobacco, mocha. Intense palate, extremely ripe but supported by lovely acidity and beautiful sweet tannins. This is a huge, chewy wine and without that structure this would collapse under its own weight like a dodgy souffle. Ornellaia often see-saws between the richness of the fruit and that mineral-edged structure that provides the counter-point. The scales are slightly in favour of the fruit here but minerality still present and balance is excellent. Great complexity with flashes of mint, plum, sour dough and violets. Very long grippy finish rounding off with a little oak flourish and a hint of juicy green meadow grass (mooooo!). Beauitful now and rather a forward Ornellaia but no rush. Best now-2015 or so?
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Brought to CT Philly offline gathering. Loved this wine!!! Decanted 4 hours, as soon as it hit my tongue I knew this was something special. Strong, intense layers of flavors, great acidity, and finish. Drinking well now with a decant but will cellar for years.
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While not a famously terrific year for this wine its hard to imagine this being much better. A fascinating amalgam of what makes Bordeaux and California wine great- sweet concentrated fruit with smoldering layers of complexity.
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Very dark ruby color in this very impressive tuscan red. Its fame is tottaly well deserved. Harmonious, complex, with layers and layers of taste. Still youg (could certainly age for a decade or more), shows intense ripe red fruits (currant and blackberry). Also leather and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
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I was in the mood to cook a feast. Cooking has always been a creative endeavor for me, akin to painting, and playing music. It's been months, maybe more than 6 months, since we've been home on a Saturday night, and it seems like an eternity since I cooked just for our own small family on a weekend. So, I went to my favorite Italian market. Tonight's dinner was (i) raviolis with pumpkin sauce; (ii) curly and twisted pasta with spicy red sauce with meatballs and spicy Italian sausage; (iii) perfectly crispy duck breasts in a fresh raspberry reduction sauce; and (iv) seared paper-thin veal. Luckily, this wine rose to the multiple flavors -- from the savory sweet of the duck to the rich sweetness of the pumpkin, to the meat and garlic of the veal. This wine had that magic -- Italian thing -- which I only ever experience with Italian wines. I can only describe it as a big nice spice behind the nose -- it comes from behind the nose. Well, whatever it is, this wine had it, and the wine was rich, complex, and deep. It paired extremely well with the complex feast of flavors. I love it when the wine matches expectations, and tonight, I was not disappointed. The kitchen is a mess, the kids are deep in their own world, the dogs are lucky enough to sneak some scraps, and we're content to know that life is what you make it. Make it count.
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Good deep ruby colour with a dense, dark core. Really clings to the glass and when the threads finally start to run they are ultra-fine. Ripe nose of red fruits with a touch of leather and cigar box but a bit alc-ish. Wow this is a powerful mouthful! Super-ripe and again flashing a bit too much heat for my liking. Extremely rich and full-bodied and at this stage of its development the cabernet is dominating the blend. A curious but pleasant sugar-cardboard element on the finish, which is certainly epic in length and is still motoring along after a minute. This is an unusual Ornellaia - a little baked, a little hot and a little young but there's enough here to hold my interest. The overall impression is that in this very hot year some real seat-of-the-pants winemaking has forged something a-typical but still worthy of the name andd rep. More than a hint of new world here. A Super-Tuscan (as was at least) based on a Bodeaux blend in a Californian style? Perhaps unintentional but in the scorching 2003 Ornellaia seems to have made the UN of wines...
EDIT : After a 24 hour decant this has settled down a lot. Still ever-so-slightly hot, but it's evolved and loosened up very nicely. Very classy cedar and mint layers now apparent along with some lovely ripe plummy fruit. Drinking beautifully but really needs some air time to come together. +2 points
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Decanted for 1 1/2 hours. Dark and big. Did not notice the smell cigar box like other reviews but rather more of a mix of pencil shaving and a nice bouquet of flowers and dark fruit. Fruit forward and absolutely smooth, lovely finish. Drinking very well right now. Love it. This is a fantastic wine and truly deserves an extraordinary rating.
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Wineflock - Cabernets from Anywhere (Ken's): Group #9, My #9 - Full opaque red color. Big tight nose of black fruit and spice - ripe. Big mouthful of juicy black fruit with a long coffee finish.
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20th Anniversary for Ornellaia (Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rome): From Magnum. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Ruby colour. Nose of wild animals, roasted/charred meat. On the palate, very savoury and minerally, almost salty; acidity seemed oddly unintegrated. Interesting, curious wine, unlike the others in the flight. But the blend for 2003 is also very different. I hope this is a flawed bottle, because I didn’t like it and I have a few in my cellar. No rating.
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Dark, big and bold. Almost over-ripe. Smells like pencil shavings and cigar box with dark fruits. Fruit forward and charming. Drinking very well right now. It is unusual for Ornellaia, but it is sensual and deliciious. Love it.
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Drank at Scalini Fedeli with clients. Excellent wine and well received by my guests. Decanted for almost an hour. Probably will benefit from more cellaring.
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Supertuscan tasting at AIS (Parco dei Principi, Rome): Giant sweet fruit, soft and smooth. Quite lovely, even without the acidity that would normally counterbalance all that richness. Drinking beautifully now; wonder if it will age well.
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Purchased at Le Cantine in Greve for 100 euros after sampling it at the store. A lush, hedonistic super tuscan with a velvety mouthfeel that coats the tongue in decadence. Waves of fruit pour at you: kirsch, raspberry, and candied plums. A prominent licorice note throughout. Finishes with a wallop of tannin, but definitely flashy and flamboyant right now. Frankie mentioned that it tasted exactly like the '97 did on release. Great stuff.
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4/6/2024 - FMIL Likes this wine: 95 Points
Level up wine - 21 years and a lot to say. That’s what Bordeaux blend means: tannins perfectly integrated and alright level of acidity. Herbs and spices aromas are dominant. That’s always an experience
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8/1/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Ornellaia Dinner (Stefani Prime - Lincolnwood IL): Double blind in what turned out to be an Ornellaia vertical, which I correctly identified as an Italian Bordeaux blend. Also big, bold, and tannic, but this vintage was softer and tastier, even if I found the textures ever-so-slightly grainy.
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3/12/2023 - Francophile1 Likes this wine:
March Madness Wine Tasting: Served blind. I called it as an '04 Solaia. Nevertheless, this screams, I am a Super Tuscan from Bolgheri. Incredible nose with eucalyptus, oak, and some sweetness of Cabernet Sauv. on the finish.
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2/10/2023 - SteelerFan wrote: 94 Points
Very much in its drinking window but a long life ahead. Big wine but alcohol is in balance with deep blue/black fruit and firm but smooth tannins. Bramble, lead pencil, fruit, and kirsh. Decanted an hour and did not notice the funky quality referred to in other notes. Like a fine medoc from a good but shy vintage.
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1/11/2023 - Peech Likes this wine: 94 Points
opened for 1 hour then decanted and served. Very minty, smoky, black fruits. The alcohol was more apparent on the nose, and initially the wine felt a little more closed. Showed better about 2½ hours after opening, and turned out very nice and elegant. About 3½ hours after opening there were additional notes of coffee. While this was more shy at first, by the end of the evening this had clearly surpassed the Solaia and showing better.
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12/29/2022 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nicer when decanted. 2-3 hour decant took the funk off. Sweet and definitely exudes the warmth of the vintage. Nice juice regardless.
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7/30/2022 - reesq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Started with some barnyard funk on the nose. The funk mostly blew off after an hour, but the nose stayed retrained. The taste was classic Bordeaux Super Tuscan. A little on the ripe side, but felt young.
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4/2/2022 - jmoon wrote: 90 Points
Opened and slow ox. Chilled a bit in the fridge to soften the ripeness. But still…. Decadent and very ripe, too ripe, indistinct. A bit too Jammy rather than plush unfortunately.
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3/30/2022 - LonnieLatour95 wrote: 90 Points
Unfortunately not a great bottle, fruit was a little stewed, possibly from poor storage conditions. Still very enjoyable but disappointing considering the high expectations I had.
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1/2/2022 - LARich Likes this wine: 95 Points
Showing beautifully now, but can last another 5-7 years.
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11/5/2021 - gordonengle Likes this wine: 98 Points
I had this on Friday night when Travis was here. Also smoked a Hoyo de Monterey at 64% humidity. Fantastic wind and I’m starting to realize I like something that is mixed especially with a Merlot in it. Opus One and Pavie
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9/10/2021 - wa2ofd Likes this wine:
Still has some youthful qualities. A touch of sweetness. Would be very hard to distinguish from an older cult cab.
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1/1/2021 - Rezy13 wrote: 92 Points
2020 New Year's Day Tasting $150-$250 Double Blind (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Dark garnet core with hint of brick; dusty nose, weedy Cab, red currant, kiss of oak, Bordeaux varieties, slight jam, cedar, pure cherry, Italian-esque, just a touch sweet for Bordeaux; '04 Messorio?
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12/4/2020 - mchern02 wrote: 92 Points
3 hour decant
Aromas of dark red fruit, blueberries, blackberries, smoke, dark chocolate, toasted cedar, and a touch of flinty smoke. Medium plus body, with slightly drying tannins, stewed black and dark red fruit, light acidity, a smidge unbalanced but good stuffing and structure. Finish is long, tight and youthful. Moderate upside from here but will take some time and patience. 92-93
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8/26/2020 - portman63 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was a really great tasting wine. Didn't seem Italian at all, but I am not super-Tuscan guy. The first give-away was how it was so much less acidic than most traditional Tuscan Sangiovese-based wines. Given that, I still thought it was absolutely delicious and in the vein of a right bank Bordeaux in a luscious fruit-focused year, which it really was. None of this is a problem, but just that it is a different style. Based on other reviews, this is a well-made wine for such a hot year and will keep aging well for a while.
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7/17/2020 - Aeh17 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Part of a Super Tuscan night consumed along side a ‘00 Solaia and ‘01 Sassicaia. Considering this was the youngest wine, it actually drank the most mature. Very mellow and approachable right out of the gate. Definitely had some cooked fruits in here with silky smooth tannins. Wasn’t the most complex wine of the night but opened up a Serre Nuove alongside it for comparison and the Ornellaia still blew it out of the water (just to maintain the context of how nice the wines were that night). Ready to drink... don’t know if it really gets better with age from here. Maybe it was storage but ‘03 was not as much of an aging year.
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5/9/2020 - vpoms wrote: 92 Points
Very good wine with plenty of power left. Medium garnet. Clean nose of pronounced intensity, aromas of raisins, black cherry, toast, chocolate, mushrooms, flint. Fully developed wine. Palate: dry, medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, full body, pronounced flavors of cooked black fruit, bitter chocolate, minerals, prunes. Finish is very satisfying and long. Very good wine, in its prime now, can withstand a few more years in the bottle.
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3/29/2020 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Big red fruit, tobacco, chocolate, forest floor. Benefitted from time in the decanter and glass. 2 hours seemed about the right time before you drink. Excellent full-bodied Super Tuscan.
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2/29/2020 - Isaac L wrote: 93 Points
Hot, ripe and impenetrable for the first 2 hours. But as it opened up a cooler character emerged with liquorice, coffee grounds and dark chocolate dominant. After 3 hours some mellower fruit (prunes) was showing and was drinking open by then. Paired nicely with some Keen’s cheddar and VSOP gouda. Another 5-10 years in the cellar should tame this beast.
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2/3/2020 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Un Super Toscan musclé pour aller avec notre traditionnel festin pour le SUPER-BOWL avec
les Fouduvin DE l’ESTRIE, Bulle, Headless, FrançoisD, MikeLM et Meursault.
Le Blanc, les Champagne et les rouges pour accompagner l’orgie de
bouffe….mousses au homard, crabe et truite, craquelins divers,
canapé, des terrines de canard, lapin , gibier, les jambons, brisket,
viande fumée, Prosciutto, canard fumée, saucissons et sans oublier les
fromages Québéquois dont, le Bleu d’Élizabeth, Le pionnier, Louis d’or,
Le Champayeur et la Religieuse de la Fromagerie du Presbytère, Alfred
le Fermier, Comtomme et Chemin Hatley de la Fromagerie La Station
ainsi que 2 importations, le Comté 12 mois et le Gouda 24 mois. Pour
aller avec les liquoreux, des blocs de foie gras et les crêmes brulées au
chocolat et safran d’Iran!!!
Le plus dense et intense des rouges, bu en dernier, par chance.
Nez fragrant qui embaume, réglisse noir, fruits rouges et
tabac.
En bouche, beaucoup d'anis et de prunes, c'est ample et corsé.
Les tannins sont charnus et la finale longue montre tout juste
une pointe de chauffe.
En a encore pas mal sous la pédale.
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1/3/2020 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 96 Points
Very dark ruby in color with a wide reddish /brick rim.
Great nose of blueberries, blackberries, black currants, cedar, earth, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, wet leaves, leather, mushrooms, eucalyptus, peppercorn, vegetables, green pepper, tobacco leaf and spices.
Full bodied, smooth and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco, mocha, coke, earth, light vegetables and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.
This is a great Italian, Cabernet Based, Super Tuscan. Nicely balanced with great complexity. A little hot at the back of the throat still, which will probably go away in the next 5 years.
This 16 year old has a beautiful nose that you can smell on for hours (which I did). Reminds me of a nicely aged Left Bank Bordeaux.
We let it open up for 4 hours. Tannins come in only after 4 hours, so be patient. Will continue to age nicely in the next 20 years. A great quality wine.
Robert Parker 93 points.
I paired it with cheeses and crackers. Was great with the triple cream truffle Brie cheese.
Delightful and elegant. Tasty and delicious.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged for 18 months in (70% new) French oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
96 points.
$200.
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12/27/2019 - dnnk88 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Black fruits, currants, liquorice, sweet spices, mocha, tobacco, figs. Rather ripe and warm, the jammy-ness comes through. Long finish. Velvety tannins. Overall a good bottle of Ornellaia, although the experience was slightly tampered by the tad of sweetness. Open now
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11/20/2019 - greedy wrote: 100 Points
Bought this from a wine store in Santa Barbara and then took it to restaurant for dinner.
What great juice. This is drinking perfectly right now. Out of this world tannins. Got better over 4 hour it took me to drink it. Great barnyard funk with plenty of fruit and acidity.
I have a bottle of this in my cellar and look forward to drinking it.
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5/5/2019 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 94 Points
First of a case. Big beautiful Bordeaux Blend. Nose has hints of forest floor, dried leaves, cigar box. Palate full of deep red fruit, cocoa, spices, currants. The finish is long and you can taste the tannins which are beautifully integrating. Easily 10+ years left in this. It’s in a perfect spot right now.
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4/30/2019 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 94 Points
WOTN for our group, decanted an hr or so, beautiful dark fruit nose, very fresh, modern style, done very well, very youthful both in appearance and taste, has plenty of time, short decant if drinking now.
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11/5/2018 - whybuyone Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is definitely a good wine but I think it's overpriced for what it is. Imo, it tastes much more like a California, heavy cab rather than a Bordeaux. For the money, I'd prefer second and third growth Bordeaux wines but if you enjoy the new world style, this wine will not disappoint. It's in its prime drinking window now. I recommend drinking within the next four years. Give it a solid two to three hour decant.
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4/18/2018 - SlimShaney Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bomp bomp. Ohh yeah.
Sweet and modern and succulent red berries. Thats one half. The other half is tannic. Two sides of a coin. Not integrated. Not one side. But one coin. Wow.
Chicka chichkah. Bomp bomp.
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1/12/2018 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 94 Points
Kleur: Diep donkerrood Aroma / bouquet: Krachtig, stoer bouquet. Complex en harmonieus. Kersen, tabak, cederhout, leer. Na verloop van tijd ook wat marmite en soja. Smaak / Afdronk: Wow, briljante wijn. Friszure start, krachtige tannines, dik-sap, geweldig mooie concentratie. Enerzijds geweldig rijp, anderzijds nog volop kracht en concentratie. Prachtige balans. Algemeen / potentieel: Briljante Super-Tuscan. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 94/100
Google Translate:
i] Color: Deep dark red Aroma / bouquet: Powerful, tough bouquet. Complex and harmonious. Cherries, tobacco, cedar, leather. Over time, some marmite and soy. Taste / Finish: Wow, brilliant wine. Fresh start, strong tannins, thick juice, great concentration. On the one hand it is very ripe, on the other hand there is still plenty of strength and concentration. Beautiful balance. General / potential: Brilliant Super-Tuscan. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 18 + General / potential: 9 = 94/100
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10/7/2017 - Peck wrote: 95 Points
Just great
Bordeaux blend
Oak and integrated berries
Tuff competition tonite though
La Spineta Barbaresco The Rhino 2004
And some other Good stuff
P
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8/10/2017 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 94 Points
Kleur: Diep robijn rood. Aroma / bouquet: Opvallend gerijpt en tertiair bouquet. Expressief. Gelaagd en complex. Marmite, soja, Madeira. Smaak / Afdronk: Interessanty en uiterst complex bouquet. Zachte zuurgraad. Geconcentreerd, sublieme vulling, boterzachte tannines. Superieure balans. Algemeen / potentieel: Zeer bijzondere Super-Tuscan! 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 94/100
Google Translate:
Color: Deep red red. Aroma / bouquet: Strikingly mature and tertiary bouquet. Expressive. Layered and complex. Marmite, soya, Madeira. Taste / Afdronk: Interesting and extremely complex bouquet. Soft acidity. Concentrated, sublime filling, buttery tannins. Superior balance. General / Potential: Very Special Super-Tuscan! 50+ Color: 5+ Aroma / Bouquet: 12 + Taste / Drink: 18 + General / Potential: 9 = 94/100
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4/23/2017 - Arthur4wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
A perfect wine. I served it with herb encrusted rack of lamb. Very nice match.
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4/20/2017 - winebuff037 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opulent, dark fruits, mocha. Developed quite nicely in the glass, tasted a trace of mineral toward the end.
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2/15/2017 - globalflyer wrote: 94 Points
Staring to come into its stride. I prefer the single grape/vineyard wines for more specific terroir notes but this is high on the blend list. Notes of chocolate, deep red berry and a hint of smoke. Balance tannins and alcohol give it structure. Nose is still a bit closed but more patient decanting or drinking may have allowed it to open.
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10/9/2016 - wa2ofd Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wine is in a great zone, nice bouquet, smooth tannins, easy drinking
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5/20/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 94 Points
Ripe, lush, sweet, forward, supple textured and ready for its prime time drinking window. There is no touch of heat, or over jammy qualities to the wine, just, sweet, round, very ripe fruits, with a low acid, fleshy profile.
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5/4/2016 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind...A big wine, deep color, definite Bordeaux varietals in this glass. Sweetness on the finish... Had this not been an Italian wine dinner, I might have even gone new world on it. Drinking much better than I expected from '03 vintage.
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3/20/2016 - Kris G Does not like this wine: 91 Points
classic Bordeaux blend from Bolgheri but couldn't deliver the pleasure it should if you take the price into account, I was very disappointed
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3/5/2016 - mikita77 Likes this wine: 94 Points
We had a couple of bottles at a private dinner. The host received a few cases through her divorce settlement. Unfortunately she didn't get decent glasses out of that, serving them in some shabby old cristal ones that opened up at the top. That way it was hard to catch the nose, which is one of the best things about Ornellaia, methinks. Nevertheless, agree with most people in here, a great Bolgheri. Highlights: smoke, dark berries, soft tannins, powerful on the palate. Still think this would be even better in 3 to 5 years. The woman should have waited with that divorce.
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12/29/2015 - rjsbxtr wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful.
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8/26/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private tasting and dinner (Doorn, NL): A blend of 60% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet France, 15% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Has a clear kinship with the Masseto 1999 that followed in its initial terroir expression, quite tarry and sweet but in an attractive way, confit fruits, spicy, rounded and rich but still well-balanced and with sufficient freshness and structure, hint of greenness in the tannins, good minerality, good length. Makes the most of its difficult vintage. Very enjoyable now but not for the long term.
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6/18/2015 - la turque wrote: 94 Points
Phoenix Society chez moi: Wonderful showing, but I feel the wine needs more time. Aromas of soy, vanilla, black fruits. On the palate, the fruit is a little subdued against what was expected, but the wine was a pleasure to enjoy. Alas, my only bottle; beautiful showing. In prime time in 5 years for those who have some (envy, envy).
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2/6/2015 - Rich S Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark crimson color. Nose of roasted plum, black currant, balsamic, smoked meat, and cigar box. Similar flavors on the palate with ripe, dark berry fruit, cassis, some meaty flavors and a bit of tobacco. Savory, umami laden finish. Medium+ acid, medium tannins with a silky mouthfeel. Finish could have been a bit longer but overall I loved this wine.
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2/3/2015 - maxima wrote: 91 Points
Très beau vin, encore bien en vie.
Nez sur les prunes, la fumée et l'élevage.
En bouche, cassis, chocolat et de beau tannins fins. Finale assez longue.
Puissance et élégance, excellent.
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1/30/2015 - wa2ofd Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine was soft with subtle tannins...very nice, not overly complex this evening...paired with veal and cherry peppers...peppers over powering...if blind would not have guessed italian...
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12/31/2014 - nfafoglia Likes this wine: 95 Points
Nose dominated by earth, menthol, and mocha. Very soft and balanced on the palate. Coffee, sweet mint, and minerals. Long, soft, sweet finish.
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12/22/2014 - Rezy13 wrote: 90 Points
Double Blind $80 - $100 (Bin 75): Darker core with reddish rim; soy, red fruit, cherry, currant, orange oil; resolving tannin, prunes, liqueur, cherry, currant, intense; nose suggests this wine is fading a bit though palate was better.
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10/27/2014 - Ralph_ wrote: 90 Points
From a magnum at a Ornellaia tasting. 1985-2011 all from Magnum
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8/11/2014 - BGK810 wrote: 93 Points
Rich black fruit flavors, silky smooth but still quite bold. Delicious. Lots of life left.
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2/14/2014 - jbouchy wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for two hours. Served with beef tenderloin and port wine reduction sauce with mushrooms. Pairing was ideal. Fabulous nose, fruit forward, long finish and the beautiful complexity that Petit verdot delivers. Thought the wine was fabulous. The only thing holding it back from a higher score was it is balance. A bit strong on the acidity that prevents it from being fully integrated and smooth.
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2/6/2014 - S_stas wrote: 94 Points
Very tight cork. Double decanted for an hour, drank over 2 more. Not as viscous in the glass as anticipated due to vintage, and no real signs of age; just barely maroon around the edge. Ripe (!) nose of blackberry, black licorice, maybe cloves. On the tongue, luckily not as ripe as the nose would have indicated. A very nice balanced effort of charcoal, tinderbox\pencil, and black plums. Tannins are very fine, and finish perfectly with an acidic backbone that ensures this vintage doesn't come across too port-like. Bravo.
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1/20/2014 - Arthur4wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
A perfect wine. Well balanced and just a delight to drink. Served it with grilled lamb. My dinner guests loved it.
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1/5/2014 - LARich Likes this wine: 94 Points
WOTN without question -- easy to drink, crowd pleasing, and juat all around terrific. Not a massive mouthful, but smooth and delicious in the most classic way possible. Medium bodied balanced red fruit nose followed by a caressing palate of sweet berries with a slightly burnt caramel overtone. Not a massive finish, but might be lack of time from bottle to glass. Not decanted. Will last another 5-10 years with ease, but probably won't improve.
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12/25/2013 - Bam_Man Likes this wine: 95 Points
My first Ornellaia ever and initial bottle from my '03-'10 vertical. Decanted for four hours and it needed every minute of it. Continued to improve throughout the evening, even after the lengthy decanting. An attractive, opaque crimson in color. Has a powerful, complex nose of spice, cedar, crushed berries, flowers and earth. Full-bodied and beautifully polished. The mouth feel is akin to liquid velvet. A tidal wave of ripe raspberry, blackberry, and dark currant fruit immediately saturates the palate. The depth, breadth and concentration here are nothing short of amazing. The long, long finish is just dripping with delicious, ripe fruit. Impeccably balanced. Just ever-so-slightly jammy and over ripe - which costs the wine a bit in terms of complexity - but this is to be expected for the vintage. Nonetheless, a phenomenal wine. So full and rich, yet incredibly elegant and refined. Worth every penny. Can't wait to see what the "better" vintages are like.
50+5+13+18+9=95
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11/3/2013 - n2wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great flavors and smooth as velvet.
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10/7/2013 - farinas Likes this wine: 94 Points
10h double decant a la Bordelaise. Full body red with minor bricking on the edge. This has a big bold brooding nose that is port-like with raisined raspberries, licorice, notes of truffle, and some heat and mint in the back. Palate is velvety in the entry, lots of loamy earth, good minerality, decent cool blue fruits, wrapped in sweet alcoholic big tannins that retain the flavor in the mouth. This expansive wine finishes medium with sweet tannins and dried tiny fruits. This great terroir shone through the torrid 2003 vintage in supplementing this otherwise port-of-a-wine, with solid complexity and depth. This was a wine to enjoy young. A wine deserving of my 300th TN on cellartracker!
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9/26/2013 - cos82 Likes this wine: 96 Points
One of those rare wines that when you bring it to your nose and take your first sip, all you can say is WOW! Dark ruby in color. Black fruits and floral elements on a beautiful nose. Delicious palate of cherry, blackberry, cassis, earth, tobacco and cedar. Great balance with a long finish. Not a drop of tannin. A fabulous wine.
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2/23/2013 - WildeMeeuw Likes this wine: 94 Points
Kleur: Diep robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Expressief, complex en klassiek. Bijna Frans. Donker fruit, vooral kersen. Prachtig geïntegreerd, chicque hout. Pepertje. Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtig maar verfijnd. Aangenaam friszuur, krachtige maar prachtig gerijpte tannines. Sublieme balans. Zeer indrukwekkende lengte. Algemeen / potentieel: Prachtige, klassieke grootheid. Op dit moment al fantastisch drinkbaar. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 18 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 94/100
Color: Deep ruby red Aroma / Bouquet: Expressive, complex and classic. Almost French. Dark fruit, especially cherries. Beautifully integrated, chicque wood. Pepper. Taste / Finish: Powerful yet sophisticated. Pleasantly fresh acidity, powerful but beautifully ripened tannins. Sublime balance. Very impressive length. General / potential: Beautiful, classic grandeur. At this time all fantastic drinkable. 50 + Colour: 5 + Aroma / Bouquet: 12 + Taste / Finish: 18 + General / potential: 9 = 94/100
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11/27/2012 - matt5588 Likes this wine: 90 Points
opened 45 min prior, deep purple color with notes of cherry and pepper...did not meet high expectations but was very good
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8/31/2012 - T Warner wrote:
Deep, dark purple core fading very slightly to light purple rim. Color-wise, no real sign of age. Plum, blackberry and cherry, slight tobacco on the nose. Medium plus tannins. Lots of ripe fruit cherry, cassis on the palate. Very long finish. Lots of life left in this one.
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8/10/2012 - jetfan wrote: 90 Points
Took awhile to open up and then it had nice tannins and depth. But bouquet was always muted.
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2/28/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
Opened, decanted and drank over 1 hour. This was a big wine and very ripe, almost too ripe. Broad, expansive palate and but still singular with undeveloped bright red fruit. Long, someone alcoholic finish. Would like to try again in a few years.
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1/21/2012 - Trish22 wrote: 95 Points
Silky Bordeax like blend. Very impressed with the softness of this wine, showing much older, but still intact for its age.. A pleasant surprisefull of dark cherry on palate and nose. Based on bottle we had, not sure if will age much better.
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11/25/2011 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
30mins of decanting.
Still not in full balance with lots of un-integrated oak. nothing harsh. Good extraction and lots of ripe fruit. But the oak overshadows a lot at this stage and flattens out the complexity. We suggest one waits. 91-92
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10/5/2011 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 93 Points
RG's Birthday at Refuel
Deep purple, Heavy viscosity, high alcohol content
Big heavy juice bomb with underlaying structure that comes through as the wine breathes-could use a little more lay down time
Very long finish
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9/24/2011 - cab blends wrote: 93 Points
Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet: Dark red and drynose - classic bordeaux (in the French style) with not much discernable fruit. Lengthy finish - would be great with a juicy steak. Clearly has the body and tannins to take on any big meal. Decanted for 8 hours before tasting.
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9/2/2011 - gr8r84u wrote:
Pop and pour. Elegant and balanced. Excellent!
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7/10/2011 - jnlauridsen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 min. Very balanced bouquet. A bit dry in the back of the throat, but no tannins on the side of the tongue. Great to drink now - not a must to keep in the cellar. Great balance between acidity and tannins. Quite long aftertaste. Very enjoyable!
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6/19/2011 - Tarrant wrote: 94 Points
Truly an amazing wine and my father's day treat, but not the greatest QPR when you consider the outstanding second label 'Le Serre Nuove' is a 3rd of the price and almost as good - Dark, full bodied with a nose of plum, black fruit, cigar box, spice, mocha and vanilla, extremely well made and balanced, interesting, incredibly silky smooth on the palate with great length, stunning (94 Points).
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6/18/2011 - ilee wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful wine, this. Opened from magnum and decanted for 30 mins, the gorgeous nose was replete with black fruit, cigar box, cedar and dark chocolate. Slightly lighter-bodied than I expected (which was absolutely fine by me), the vibrant fruit and silky tannins were terrifically integrated. Some folks may like their wines to have a bit more "sense of place", but it takes a real grinch to find any serious fault with the '03 Ornellaia.
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4/30/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
I loved this. Dark fruit with licorice, spice and coffee on the nose. This is fairly modern and almost like a new world wine. Black and blue fruits, well integrated fine tannins. A little lighter bodied than I expected. A great wine with a really nice balance of acidity, fruit and tannins. I wish I had a bunch more of these but I have one left that I will open in about 5 years.
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1/20/2011 - KenK wrote: 94 Points
Classy nose that comes across like a fine Margaux from a warm vintage. Black creamy ripe fruits with nice cedar aroma.
Smooth rich black fruits with sweet tannin structure that fades into long anise finish. Velvety mouth feel with great sense of purity throughout. Fruit is masculine, but feel is feminine, so maybe a metro-sexual wine. Still a young fruit forward wine, but drinking quite nicely and improving with each pour. Many years of fine drinking left here, but not sure it has acid structure to gain complexity with more age. A crowd pleasing wine, that shows breed. Would be fun for a blind tasting as high quality Bordeaux ringer.
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3/28/2010 - ajmorton Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic nose, elements of truffles, chocolate, yet stiill fruity. Even better to taste and a long finish. Really good.
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3/26/2010 - Khamen wrote: 93 Points
Splash decant. Deep, complex and extremely concentrated nose of powerful sweet black fruit, tobacco, mocha. Intense palate, extremely ripe but supported by lovely acidity and beautiful sweet tannins. This is a huge, chewy wine and without that structure this would collapse under its own weight like a dodgy souffle. Ornellaia often see-saws between the richness of the fruit and that mineral-edged structure that provides the counter-point. The scales are slightly in favour of the fruit here but minerality still present and balance is excellent. Great complexity with flashes of mint, plum, sour dough and violets. Very long grippy finish rounding off with a little oak flourish and a hint of juicy green meadow grass (mooooo!). Beauitful now and rather a forward Ornellaia but no rush. Best now-2015 or so?
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2/6/2010 - J2K wrote: 96 Points
Brought to CT Philly offline gathering. Loved this wine!!! Decanted 4 hours, as soon as it hit my tongue I knew this was something special. Strong, intense layers of flavors, great acidity, and finish. Drinking well now with a decant but will cellar for years.
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11/11/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 96 Points
While not a famously terrific year for this wine its hard to imagine this being much better. A fascinating amalgam of what makes Bordeaux and California wine great- sweet concentrated fruit with smoldering layers of complexity.
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9/27/2009 - MarcoAzevedo wrote: 96 Points
Very dark ruby color in this very impressive tuscan red. Its fame is tottaly well deserved. Harmonious, complex, with layers and layers of taste. Still youg (could certainly age for a decade or more), shows intense ripe red fruits (currant and blackberry). Also leather and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
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9/19/2009 - A&C wrote: 93 Points
I was in the mood to cook a feast. Cooking has always been a creative endeavor for me, akin to painting, and playing music. It's been months, maybe more than 6 months, since we've been home on a Saturday night, and it seems like an eternity since I cooked just for our own small family on a weekend. So, I went to my favorite Italian market. Tonight's dinner was (i) raviolis with pumpkin sauce; (ii) curly and twisted pasta with spicy red sauce with meatballs and spicy Italian sausage; (iii) perfectly crispy duck breasts in a fresh raspberry reduction sauce; and (iv) seared paper-thin veal. Luckily, this wine rose to the multiple flavors -- from the savory sweet of the duck to the rich sweetness of the pumpkin, to the meat and garlic of the veal. This wine had that magic -- Italian thing -- which I only ever experience with Italian wines. I can only describe it as a big nice spice behind the nose -- it comes from behind the nose. Well, whatever it is, this wine had it, and the wine was rich, complex, and deep. It paired extremely well with the complex feast of flavors. I love it when the wine matches expectations, and tonight, I was not disappointed. The kitchen is a mess, the kids are deep in their own world, the dogs are lucky enough to sneak some scraps, and we're content to know that life is what you make it. Make it count.
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8/28/2009 - Khamen wrote: 93 Points
Good deep ruby colour with a dense, dark core. Really clings to the glass and when the threads finally start to run they are ultra-fine. Ripe nose of red fruits with a touch of leather and cigar box but a bit alc-ish. Wow this is a powerful mouthful! Super-ripe and again flashing a bit too much heat for my liking. Extremely rich and full-bodied and at this stage of its development the cabernet is dominating the blend. A curious but pleasant sugar-cardboard element on the finish, which is certainly epic in length and is still motoring along after a minute. This is an unusual Ornellaia - a little baked, a little hot and a little young but there's enough here to hold my interest. The overall impression is that in this very hot year some real seat-of-the-pants winemaking has forged something a-typical but still worthy of the name andd rep. More than a hint of new world here. A Super-Tuscan (as was at least) based on a Bodeaux blend in a Californian style? Perhaps unintentional but in the scorching 2003 Ornellaia seems to have made the UN of wines...
EDIT : After a 24 hour decant this has settled down a lot. Still ever-so-slightly hot, but it's evolved and loosened up very nicely. Very classy cedar and mint layers now apparent along with some lovely ripe plummy fruit. Drinking beautifully but really needs some air time to come together. +2 points
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7/29/2009 - JAKurek wrote: 92 Points
Opened 10 hours prior to drinking. In a night of impressive company this was a bit one dimensional but enjoyable nonetheless.
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2/15/2009 - wm3395 wrote: 96 Points
Decanted for 1 1/2 hours. Dark and big. Did not notice the smell cigar box like other reviews but rather more of a mix of pencil shaving and a nice bouquet of flowers and dark fruit. Fruit forward and absolutely smooth, lovely finish. Drinking very well right now. Love it. This is a fantastic wine and truly deserves an extraordinary rating.
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11/5/2008 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
Wineflock - Cabernets from Anywhere (Ken's): Group #9, My #9 - Full opaque red color. Big tight nose of black fruit and spice - ripe. Big mouthful of juicy black fruit with a long coffee finish.
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7/22/2008 - Phin wrote: 94 Points
3 hour decant. A light aged bordeaux-like fruit up front that follows with a surprising velvet chocolate blanket of density on the finish. Unique.
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5/13/2008 - Barbara B wrote:
20th Anniversary for Ornellaia (Crowne Plaza Hotel, Rome): From Magnum. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.
Ruby colour. Nose of wild animals, roasted/charred meat. On the palate, very savoury and minerally, almost salty; acidity seemed oddly unintegrated. Interesting, curious wine, unlike the others in the flight. But the blend for 2003 is also very different. I hope this is a flawed bottle, because I didn’t like it and I have a few in my cellar. No rating.
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3/22/2008 - loverboy wrote: 91 Points
Still very very new, Deep dark red, pencil lead scent along with red fruits. Straight strong aftertaste, like I said very new !!!!
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9/21/2007 - sonakul_t wrote: 90 Points
Dark red & full of fruits. Still rather tanninc as a yound wine.
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7/19/2007 - mzimberg wrote: 94 Points
Dark, big and bold. Almost over-ripe. Smells like pencil shavings and cigar box with dark fruits. Fruit forward and charming. Drinking very well right now. It is unusual for Ornellaia, but it is sensual and deliciious. Love it.
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4/2/2007 - Glenino wrote: 92 Points
beutifully complex. bouquet like a brunello.
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3/12/2007 - ken'scellar wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Scalini Fedeli with clients. Excellent wine and well received by my guests. Decanted for almost an hour. Probably will benefit from more cellaring.
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11/7/2006 - Double-A Likes this wine: 95 Points
Cedar, smoke, vanilla and currant nose. Rich, full and assertive palate with ripe, dry tannins; long, woodsy finish.
5/5
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10/23/2006 - Barbara B wrote: 92 Points
Supertuscan tasting at AIS (Parco dei Principi, Rome): Giant sweet fruit, soft and smooth. Quite lovely, even without the acidity that would normally counterbalance all that richness. Drinking beautifully now; wonder if it will age well.
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9/22/2006 - otisabdul wrote: 94 Points
Purchased at Le Cantine in Greve for 100 euros after sampling it at the store. A lush, hedonistic super tuscan with a velvety mouthfeel that coats the tongue in decadence. Waves of fruit pour at you: kirsch, raspberry, and candied plums. A prominent licorice note throughout. Finishes with a wallop of tannin, but definitely flashy and flamboyant right now. Frankie mentioned that it tasted exactly like the '97 did on release. Great stuff.
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