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. Seemed like mature left bank Bordeaux aromatically, but this was slightly lacking on the palate. Medium body, this seemed much older than its actual age.
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Medium garnet color turning amber at the rim with a wide reflective band. The nose gives off smoky notes of dark red berries, leather and scorched earth from the toasted oak. The palate is silky smooth with a firm, relatively youthful grip and ample acidity that balances the ripe cassis, raspberry, and strawberry compote flavors. At this age, there are secondary flavors of leather, seared meat and tea leaf that emerge from the oak. Very seamlessly integrated, balanced and elegant. Finishes long with hints of eucalyptus. Drink now until 2028.
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*pft* Light red colour with medium tiling. The scent is prominent, with extensive references to Bdx and Brett. As if a whole herd of cattle has wandered forlornly in the corrals. In the mouth, it is dang near tartily tart in terms of overexpression of acids. Huh :-( The kindest thing I can say about this total waste of my hard-earned money is: "acidity-driven and elegant".
This bottle does not deliver anywhere near what the label promises.
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Ptjae, ljusröd färg med medeltegling.
Doften är stor med omfattande referenser till Bdx och Brett. En hel hjord av boskap har promenerat förbi i krokarna. I munnen är dett mot snipigt vad gäller överuttryck av syror. Huh. Det snällaste jag kan säga är "syradriven och elegant".
Vinet levererar inte vad etiketten utlovar.
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Ripe black currants, black cherries, green bell pepper, fresh cracked black pepper (straight from the mill!), tobacco/cigar box, leather and dust. Kind of a linear progression on the palate of all of those flavors; though the "dust" note sticks around over everything. I would call this "dusty Bordeaux" blind, AKA very much in line with Bolgheri.
Full bodied with medium acid and medium + tannins that have hardly mellowed with age. Also a nice minute + long finish. This is built to last. While it is delicious now; you could easily age it a few more years.
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Lovely wine. Dark plum, minimal bricking. Dark and red fruit on the nose, soft tannins. Restrained. Should have decanted to compare, but it was gone before that happened.
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Deep ruby with some bricking on the edge, melted tannins and silky-smooth notes of cherries and forest floor. Complex nose difficult to discern. A sublime Ornellaia in this not so fancy vintage drinking beautifully now and by 2030. Pop those corks.
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Still a good drink but a little past it’s peak. If in your cellar drink now. After 3 to 4 hours of breathing had a nice nose and soft to pallet but both lacked the strength of a slightly younger Ornellaia. Drink now!
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Drinks and smells like a left bank with some italian flair. Open for business, roses, red fruits, silky mouthfeel. Long red fruit finish, earthy.Very nice.
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(SYP) brief note: tobacco, dried herbs, dark fruit, mineral, wood. Still a bit tight and tannic, good concentration. Would improve with some aeration. 91-93 13.5%
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Soft, fully ripe with a finish of nutmeg. This is a gorgeous wine that I should have opened five years ago. Be that as it may, the tail end still offers beauty, grace and a pleasant warm up to the 09 Leoville Barton in the decanter. Drink em if you got em.
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Casual (Mostly) Italian Wine Dinner with Friends (Ballaro - Highwood IL): In 90/96/97/98 vertical. Black cherry, dried herbs, licorice and plum. Very elegant structure, near perfect balance with good+ length and concentration. My favorite of this very good flight, slightly surprising given the vintages involved.
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Double-decanted about an hour before dinner. I did have a small glass to sample upon uncorking, which I thought showed best among subsequent pours. Quite interesting complexity with notes of black cherry, currant, umami, mushroom, leather, tobacco and some barnyard. Mid/full-bodied with very fine firm tannins balanced by good amount of acidity, and ending on a dry medium finish. An hour later the fruit began to fade quickly and tannins became a bit more formidable. It developed more prominent tertiary notes with some Old World funk and earthiness. IMHO, I think its best days are behind it. Drink up!
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the '96 #Ornellaia took some time to come around in the glass, but once it did--it was gorgeous. Here of found an intense bouquet of crushed wild berries, raspberry, savory herbs, dried flowers, dusty soil, animal musk and leather. On the palate, silky, weighty, dark textures were offset by tart berry with zesty acidity, minerals and inner florals. It started large and weighty yet turned wonderfully tart and lifted in a truly refined way. The finish was remarkably long with notes of hard red candies and spice.
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Forward drinking, creamy, dark fruit, opulent nose, silky. But the complexity was limited. At the peak right now, but it will stay here for a couple of years
ive had the 99, 00, and 01. this was a bit straight forward and predictable. im not sure aging this any longer will make it more exciting. solid bottle for sure, but rotten qpr unless you bought it on release.
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Dark garnet with ruby edges and med-heavy viscosity in the glass. Fantastic nose of plum, raspberry, bramble, pipe tobacco, stewed red fruit, tart black fruit, licorice and saddle hide. Full body with gorgeous high-quality and polished red and black fruit, tobacco and BBQ on the palate. Long finish. Stunning fruit and hand, but lacking complexity and wow! Don’t see it improving with age.
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A very mature nose of earth, leather and underwood. On the palate charming with notes of mushroom, earth. Not the most complicated Ornellaia but so drinkable.
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Took to a BYO in Philly with the Mrs. This was incredible. I drank my last 1990 about a month ago and that was fading fast. This was perfect and ready to go a completely different story. Certainly could last, but why wait? Tannins well integrated, some barnyard on the nose and some fruit--blackberries, strawberry. Full bodied, just a joy to drink
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In terms of colour similar to the 1997, just more rusty towards the rim, not as bright and deep. Less expressive and complex on the nose, but still very nice. Ripe fruit, liquorice, vegetal. Green pepper notes on the palate, fresh and balanced but compared to 1997 a lot less complex, fruit maybe a little bit tired. Not superbly balanced, but quite long and persistent. Might have liked it more on its own, but struggling next to the 1997. I'd drink this rather sooner than later. 91-92
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Blood red. Cork perfect. Decanted and left to open for 90 minutes. Funky nose of must, mushrooms, smoke and dust. Evolved to add some cedar and cigarbox. Taste profile followed -- chocolate, tobacco, earth and currants. It evolved more over the next 2 hours -- wine sweetened and then eventually dissipated. Huge wine.
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75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 5% cabernet franc
Bouchon imbibé à 80%
Belle robe rubis aux rebords légèrement orangée, très foncé, beaucoup de matière !
Nez très expressif, épices, clou de girofe, tabac, bois de santal, cuir, pruneau, et cassis
En bouche, les tannins sont doux mais encore présents, très belle balance, une touche d'acidité, la finale tabac / épices reste très longtemps en bouche
Très beau vin, à maturité, il n'évoluera pas plus, 94 points
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Wine Flock Dinner (Caro Mio - Chicago, IL): Currant and road tar. A little black olive. Gorgeous palate. Balanced and soft. A little heat and tannins showing nice resolved qualities. Still could use a few more years.
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Italian wines (mostly) in Sonoma (Della Santina's Tratorria): Others at the table seemed to like this more than I. I did like it though very much. The nose is great. Like and older Bordeaux with cassis, cigar tobacco, and some bell pepper (in a good way). I thought the palate was not equal to the nose. Still nice with leather, dried fruits and cassis. It seems fully integrated, yet I was hoping for more complexity. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I would drink these sooner than later.
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At Ed and Lori's pre going out to dinner - opened for an hour and a half - deep color, a nose of crushed flowers and berries, dark swirling fruits on the palate with long finsh. We PNP's the second bottle and it was not as satisfying. The rating is off the first bottle. I think with two or three hours of decant this would be a 95.
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Terrific wine. Sage and stem move to a deep, rich, enveloping palate of cassis. Nice acidity, maybe a touch more would be good. Excellent overall purity and depth.
I used to drink this wine 4-5 years ago. It closed and seems past maturity, nothing's good to remember. I bring it to drink today because I just want to finish it all away. Surprisingly !!! It opens up with a very classic Medoc Grand Cru scents and very nice in structure with a good finished.
It's going to sleep for a few years then wakes up again and again, a circle of life. This is a mystery of wine.
Next bottle of 1995/1996 Ornellaia, I should test it seriously.
Love it !!!
Drink now - 2020.........92-94/100..........
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wonderful wine. nose is complex with red fruit and light spice. Aging nicely with smooth integrated tannins. minerality. long finish. No bitterness. Classic Ornellaia.
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decanted for 1 hr - great wine! the nose was complex and very pleasing. The wine had excellent fruit, and great balance - a thouroughly enjoyable experience.
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Very enjoyable wine. Took a few minutes to get singing in the glass, but was quite a pleasant wine. Dark fruit and good balance. Good medium length finish.
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Dinner at Ray's: Really good, precise black fruit on nose: very sort of tunneled (i.e. tunnel vision for your nose) sweet black fruit. Initially, it feels nicely open on palate and very attractive, but then it suddenly tightens and reveals a pretty solid tannic structure. And this was decanted about 4 hours ago.
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Opened, decanted, 45 min air then poured. Wow, what happened w this bottle? Outstanding nose, floral, dark raspberry, blackberry & spice. On the palate - the same, blackberry, raspberry, smokey notes and the spice more of a mint note than the peppery nose. Went back over my notes from the last 14 bottles and this one really opened and shined. I have consistently scored this vintage @ 94 (avg & mean) & as an Ornellaia devotee the notes are detailed and the memory firm so this is something new happening with this wine. Medium to medium-long finish w a very pleasant blackberry/mineral aftertaste that lingers. Wonderful complexity. 3 bottles left - this just kills me...
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Agree with previous tasters that this surprised me, that, although popped and poured, it was still so very closed and shy. Nose was nice B/x still, but quite reserved. Gained some weight over the evening.
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A nice wine that is showing very little signs of aging. The wine is elegant, but needs time to open. I don't think I allowed it to breath long enough as the first couple of glasses exhibited strong tannin's on the mid palate. The nose itself was barely noticeable, not what I was expecting. The wine tasted like a blend and the Cab. notes were prominent. As the night went on , the wine began opening up and gained some weight. It was quite pleasant with a relatively short finish of about 20 seconds. I enjoyed this wine very much, but it is not on the same level of the 97 or the 98. Still enjoyable and will probably improve in the next 7-10 years, maybe more.
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Opened and gently decanted for about 90 minutes. Very elegant. Not showing many signs of its 13 years, appearance is still quite primary--deep purple cherry. Tanins and oak well integrated. Despite the cool and wet summer in 96, there are no hints of unripeness, nor of the heat of a year like 97. What we get is bright fruit, a plush mouthfeel from the merlot, with the Cab providing more structure, but not a lot of leather and pencil shavings -- at least not year. A bit short in the finish. A very nice wine overall. Very classy.
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dark inky. no sign of aging alcohol and dark fruit balance between fruits and tannins. could age for many years more. a powerhouse wine that manages to remain elegant.
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Tried this at blind tasting with 10 other people from the wine trade and it was wine of the night even beating out a Monte Bello ridge from 1994. An amazing nose displaying coconut, coffee, dark berried fruit with a hint of the feral about it, leaves e.t.c. Beautiful purple garnet although the bricking as evident and gave it away as 10 year + at the tasting. On the palate it was 30 - 40 seconds plus with a wonderful harmonious feel, fruit is integrated but there is still some grip and acid there which hint at further potential ahead. The group were foxed between opus one and bordeaux garage wines with no one guessing italy. All in all a cracking wine, well worth the hype and its very high points. I have to say on this showing I would pay the high prices being asked....
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I really liked this Italian. Color is medium to dark garnet with hint of lightening at the rim. Nose shows dusty cherry, spiced wood, and a hint of smoke. The palate reveals beautiful smoky cherry, spices, and toasty oak with a good spine of acidity. Elegant and very enjoyable...good with food as well. Thanks to Bill Wood for another winner.
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Curious to see how this would stack up against the unworldly 1997, tasted a month ago. Same dark purple color. Nose very welcoming with cassis, cedar, blackberry, and wood shavings present. Nice blackcurrent and cassis notes on the palate, with "warm", soft tannins accompanying. Not as concentrated or long as the '97 but quite stylish and complete. Pleasant surprise.
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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. Seemed like mature left bank Bordeaux aromatically, but this was slightly lacking on the palate. Medium body, this seemed much older than its actual age.
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1/27/2023 - Life At Your Leisure 🍷 wrote: 96 Points
Medium garnet color turning amber at the rim with a wide reflective band. The nose gives off smoky notes of dark red berries, leather and scorched earth from the toasted oak. The palate is silky smooth with a firm, relatively youthful grip and ample acidity that balances the ripe cassis, raspberry, and strawberry compote flavors. At this age, there are secondary flavors of leather, seared meat and tea leaf that emerge from the oak. Very seamlessly integrated, balanced and elegant. Finishes long with hints of eucalyptus. Drink now until 2028.
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1/4/2023 - StefanAkiko Likes this wine: 87 Points
*pft*
Light red colour with medium tiling.
The scent is prominent, with extensive references to Bdx and Brett. As if a whole herd of cattle has wandered forlornly in the corrals.
In the mouth, it is dang near tartily tart in terms of overexpression of acids. Huh :-(
The kindest thing I can say about this total waste of my hard-earned money is: "acidity-driven and elegant".
This bottle does not deliver anywhere near what the label promises.
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Ptjae, ljusröd färg med medeltegling.
Doften är stor med omfattande referenser till Bdx och Brett. En hel hjord av boskap har promenerat förbi i krokarna.
I munnen är dett mot snipigt vad gäller överuttryck av syror. Huh.
Det snällaste jag kan säga är "syradriven och elegant".
Vinet levererar inte vad etiketten utlovar.
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7/16/2022 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ripe black currants, black cherries, green bell pepper, fresh cracked black pepper (straight from the mill!), tobacco/cigar box, leather and dust. Kind of a linear progression on the palate of all of those flavors; though the "dust" note sticks around over everything. I would call this "dusty Bordeaux" blind, AKA very much in line with Bolgheri.
Full bodied with medium acid and medium + tannins that have hardly mellowed with age. Also a nice minute + long finish. This is built to last. While it is delicious now; you could easily age it a few more years.
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4/16/2022 - apg23 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely wine. Dark plum, minimal bricking. Dark and red fruit on the nose, soft tannins. Restrained. Should have decanted to compare, but it was gone before that happened.
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12/29/2021 - GTFreek wrote:
Very small taste but very impressive. Acquire if possible.
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12/29/2021 - gmglass Likes this wine: 97 Points
This wine was insanely delicious - drank for 'new year's eve' celebration last night and it was 'the bomb'. Somm said best wine he tasted all year.
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3/8/2021 - Ara Kafafian Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep ruby with some bricking on the edge, melted tannins and silky-smooth notes of cherries and forest floor. Complex nose difficult to discern. A sublime Ornellaia in this not so fancy vintage drinking beautifully now and by 2030. Pop those corks.
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1/28/2021 - dlcolester wrote: 92 Points
Still a good drink but a little past it’s peak. If in your cellar drink now. After 3 to 4 hours of breathing had a nice nose and soft to pallet but both lacked the strength of a slightly younger Ornellaia. Drink now!
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5/24/2020 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 96 Points
Lovely red and dark fruit, beautiful texture and tannins fully integrated. Just a hint of acidity giving a freshness, despite its 24 years.
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1/2/2020 - Dale P Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice wine, red fruits, tobacco, a little flat in the finish. Should have opened a few years back
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11/25/2019 - AWBryce wrote:
Drinks and smells like a left bank with some italian flair. Open for business, roses, red fruits, silky mouthfeel. Long red fruit finish, earthy.Very nice.
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10/31/2019 - LTTC Likes this wine: 91 Points
(SYP) brief note: tobacco, dried herbs, dark fruit, mineral, wood. Still a bit tight and tannic, good concentration. Would improve with some aeration. 91-93
13.5%
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10/16/2018 - WinoRick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind vs. a group of Bordeaux blends from around the world. Ok, but not the winner. Standing up to time but drink now I'd say.
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4/13/2018 - BradA Likes this wine: 91 Points
Soft, fully ripe with a finish of nutmeg. This is a gorgeous wine that I should have opened five years ago. Be that as it may, the tail end still offers beauty, grace and a pleasant warm up to the 09 Leoville Barton in the decanter. Drink em if you got em.
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3/10/2018 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Nose: A-/A Palate: B+/B++
My #1, Group's #1 (28 pts). Tasted Blind. Part of Super Tuscan tasting.
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5/10/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Casual (Mostly) Italian Wine Dinner with Friends (Ballaro - Highwood IL): In 90/96/97/98 vertical. Black cherry, dried herbs, licorice and plum. Very elegant structure, near perfect balance with good+ length and concentration. My favorite of this very good flight, slightly surprising given the vintages involved.
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12/25/2016 - DRS-Inc wrote: 93 Points
Double-decanted about an hour before dinner. I did have a small glass to sample upon uncorking, which I thought showed best among subsequent pours. Quite interesting complexity with notes of black cherry, currant, umami, mushroom, leather, tobacco and some barnyard. Mid/full-bodied with very fine firm tannins balanced by good amount of acidity, and ending on a dry medium finish. An hour later the fruit began to fade quickly and tannins became a bit more formidable. It developed more prominent tertiary notes with some Old World funk and earthiness. IMHO, I think its best days are behind it. Drink up!
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12/5/2016 - Eric Guido Likes this wine: 94 Points
the '96 #Ornellaia took some time to come around in the glass, but once it did--it was gorgeous. Here of found an intense bouquet of crushed wild berries, raspberry, savory herbs, dried flowers, dusty soil, animal musk and leather. On the palate, silky, weighty, dark textures were offset by tart berry with zesty acidity, minerals and inner florals. It started large and weighty yet turned wonderfully tart and lifted in a truly refined way. The finish was remarkably long with notes of hard red candies and spice.
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4/8/2016 - mmrosen Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice nose at the beginning and 45 minutes after fades away, kind of old
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2/28/2015 - Burgnick wrote: 93 Points
Forward drinking, creamy, dark fruit, opulent nose, silky. But the complexity was limited. At the peak right now, but it will stay here for a couple of years
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2/8/2015 - mike l. Likes this wine: 92 Points
ive had the 99, 00, and 01. this was a bit straight forward and predictable. im not sure aging this any longer will make it more exciting. solid bottle for sure, but rotten qpr unless you bought it on release.
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2/7/2015 - christophee Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark garnet with ruby edges and med-heavy viscosity in the glass. Fantastic nose of plum, raspberry, bramble, pipe tobacco, stewed red fruit, tart black fruit, licorice and saddle hide. Full body with gorgeous high-quality and polished red and black fruit, tobacco and BBQ on the palate. Long finish. Stunning fruit and hand, but lacking complexity and wow! Don’t see it improving with age.
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11/8/2014 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very mature nose of earth, leather and underwood. On the palate charming with notes of mushroom, earth. Not the most complicated Ornellaia but so drinkable.
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7/18/2014 - mcromain1021 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Took to a BYO in Philly with the Mrs. This was incredible. I drank my last 1990 about a month ago and that was fading fast. This was perfect and ready to go a completely different story. Certainly could last, but why wait? Tannins well integrated, some barnyard on the nose and some fruit--blackberries, strawberry. Full bodied, just a joy to drink
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5/8/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
In terms of colour similar to the 1997, just more rusty towards the rim, not as bright and deep. Less expressive and complex on the nose, but still very nice. Ripe fruit, liquorice, vegetal. Green pepper notes on the palate, fresh and balanced but compared to 1997 a lot less complex, fruit maybe a little bit tired. Not superbly balanced, but quite long and persistent. Might have liked it more on its own, but struggling next to the 1997. I'd drink this rather sooner than later. 91-92
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4/26/2014 - PDavisMarble wrote: 96 Points
Blood red. Cork perfect. Decanted and left to open for 90 minutes. Funky nose of must, mushrooms, smoke and dust. Evolved to add some cedar and cigarbox. Taste profile followed -- chocolate, tobacco, earth and currants. It evolved more over the next 2 hours -- wine sweetened and then eventually dissipated. Huge wine.
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3/2/2014 - Hazevedo wrote: 94 Points
- Garnet color.
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12/22/2013 - Jonathanmustang Likes this wine: 94 Points
75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 5% cabernet franc
Bouchon imbibé à 80%
Belle robe rubis aux rebords légèrement orangée, très foncé, beaucoup de matière !
Nez très expressif, épices, clou de girofe, tabac, bois de santal, cuir, pruneau, et cassis
En bouche, les tannins sont doux mais encore présents, très belle balance, une touche d'acidité, la finale tabac / épices reste très longtemps en bouche
Très beau vin, à maturité, il n'évoluera pas plus, 94 points
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5/30/2013 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Wine Flock Dinner (Caro Mio - Chicago, IL): Currant and road tar.
A little black olive. Gorgeous palate.
Balanced and soft. A little heat and tannins showing nice resolved qualities.
Still could use a few more years.
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3/8/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Italian wines (mostly) in Sonoma (Della Santina's Tratorria): Others at the table seemed to like this more than I. I did like it though very much. The nose is great. Like and older Bordeaux with cassis, cigar tobacco, and some bell pepper (in a good way). I thought the palate was not equal to the nose. Still nice with leather, dried fruits and cassis. It seems fully integrated, yet I was hoping for more complexity. Perhaps my expectations were too high. I would drink these sooner than later.
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3/6/2013 - winelovr2001 wrote: 95 Points
An amazing wine, i would have guessed mid 90's cali cab blind probably. Well done, a hint of brett but not off-putting
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5/7/2012 - markcic wrote: 92 Points
At Ed and Lori's pre going out to dinner - opened for an hour and a half - deep color, a nose of crushed flowers and berries, dark swirling fruits on the palate with long finsh. We PNP's the second bottle and it was not as satisfying. The rating is off the first bottle. I think with two or three hours of decant this would be a 95.
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5/4/2012 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 95 Points
Great bottle.
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3/6/2012 - Eric wrote: 93 Points
Terrific wine. Sage and stem move to a deep, rich, enveloping palate of cassis. Nice acidity, maybe a touch more would be good. Excellent overall purity and depth.
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3/6/2011 - noppakit s. wrote: 92 Points
I used to drink this wine 4-5 years ago.
It closed and seems past maturity, nothing's good to remember.
I bring it to drink today because I just want to finish it all away.
Surprisingly !!!
It opens up with a very classic Medoc Grand Cru scents and very nice in structure with a good finished.
It's going to sleep for a few years then wakes up again and again, a circle of life.
This is a mystery of wine.
Next bottle of 1995/1996 Ornellaia, I should test it seriously.
Love it !!!
Drink now - 2020.........92-94/100..........
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2/4/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
wonderful wine. nose is complex with red fruit and light spice. Aging nicely with smooth integrated tannins. minerality. long finish. No bitterness. Classic Ornellaia.
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1/30/2011 - uberoh wrote: 94 Points
decanted for 1 hr - great wine! the nose was complex and very pleasing. The wine had excellent fruit, and great balance - a thouroughly enjoyable experience.
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12/18/2010 - KingSlacker999 wrote: 91 Points
Very enjoyable wine. Took a few minutes to get singing in the glass, but was quite a pleasant wine. Dark fruit and good balance. Good medium length finish.
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9/3/2010 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Ray's: Really good, precise black fruit on nose: very sort of tunneled (i.e. tunnel vision for your nose) sweet black fruit. Initially, it feels nicely open on palate and very attractive, but then it suddenly tightens and reveals a pretty solid tannic structure. And this was decanted about 4 hours ago.
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8/18/2010 - CMz wrote: 96 Points
Opened, decanted, 45 min air then poured. Wow, what happened w this bottle? Outstanding nose, floral, dark raspberry, blackberry & spice. On the palate - the same, blackberry, raspberry, smokey notes and the spice more of a mint note than the peppery nose. Went back over my notes from the last 14 bottles and this one really opened and shined. I have consistently scored this vintage @ 94 (avg & mean) & as an Ornellaia devotee the notes are detailed and the memory firm so this is something new happening with this wine. Medium to medium-long finish w a very pleasant blackberry/mineral aftertaste that lingers. Wonderful complexity. 3 bottles left - this just kills me...
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8/1/2010 - wallstreet wrote:
I let this one decant for a few hours and made all the difference. Wine was absolutely excellent. Can live on for many years.
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4/28/2010 - cnordstr wrote: 92 Points
Agree with previous tasters that this surprised me, that, although popped and poured, it was still so very closed and shy. Nose was nice B/x still, but quite reserved. Gained some weight over the evening.
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4/20/2010 - wallstreet wrote:
A nice wine that is showing very little signs of aging. The wine is elegant, but needs time to open. I don't think I allowed it to breath long enough as the first couple of glasses exhibited strong tannin's on the mid palate. The nose itself was barely noticeable, not what I was expecting. The wine tasted like a blend and the Cab. notes were prominent. As the night went on , the wine began opening up and gained some weight. It was quite pleasant with a relatively short finish of about 20 seconds. I enjoyed this wine very much, but it is not on the same level of the 97 or the 98. Still enjoyable and will probably improve in the next 7-10 years, maybe more.
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10/25/2009 - SteveHyde wrote:
Opened and gently decanted for about 90 minutes. Very elegant. Not showing many signs of its 13 years, appearance is still quite primary--deep purple cherry. Tanins and oak well integrated. Despite the cool and wet summer in 96, there are no hints of unripeness, nor of the heat of a year like 97. What we get is bright fruit, a plush mouthfeel from the merlot, with the Cab providing more structure, but not a lot of leather and pencil shavings -- at least not year. A bit short in the finish. A very nice wine overall. Very classy.
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7/28/2009 - J-Sho wrote: 93 Points
strong and aging well. sorry, lost tasting notes.
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6/7/2009 - TannicBeast wrote: 95 Points
dark inky. no sign of aging alcohol and dark fruit balance between fruits and tannins. could age for many years more. a powerhouse wine that manages to remain elegant.
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3/26/2008 - olzhoward wrote: 94 Points
Tried this at blind tasting with 10 other people from the wine trade and it was wine of the night even beating out a Monte Bello ridge from 1994. An amazing nose displaying coconut, coffee, dark berried fruit with a hint of the feral about it, leaves e.t.c. Beautiful purple garnet although the bricking as evident and gave it away as 10 year + at the tasting. On the palate it was 30 - 40 seconds plus with a wonderful harmonious feel, fruit is integrated but there is still some grip and acid there which hint at further potential ahead. The group were foxed between opus one and bordeaux garage wines with no one guessing italy. All in all a cracking wine, well worth the hype and its very high points. I have to say on this showing I would pay the high prices being asked....
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10/28/2006 - Thilo wrote: 93 Points
I really liked this Italian. Color is medium to dark garnet with hint of lightening at the rim. Nose shows dusty cherry, spiced wood, and a hint of smoke. The palate reveals beautiful smoky cherry, spices, and toasty oak with a good spine of acidity. Elegant and very enjoyable...good with food as well. Thanks to Bill Wood for another winner.
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8/7/2005 - DougLee wrote: 90 Points
Curious to see how this would stack up against the unworldly 1997, tasted a month ago. Same dark purple color. Nose very welcoming with cassis, cedar, blackberry, and wood shavings present. Nice blackcurrent and cassis notes on the palate, with "warm", soft tannins accompanying. Not as concentrated or long as the '97 but quite stylish and complete. Pleasant surprise.
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1/6/2001 - JeffGMorris wrote:
Drinking very well. Good fruit and structure.
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