August 1, 2023 - 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.
January 27, 2023 - 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.
January 4, 2023 - *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.
---------------------_---------
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.
July 16, 2022 - 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.
April 16, 2022 - 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.
December 29, 2021 - Very small taste but very impressive. Acquire if possible.
December 29, 2021 - 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.
March 8, 2021 - 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.
January 28, 2021 - 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!
May 24, 2020 - Lovely red and dark fruit, beautiful texture and tannins fully integrated. Just a hint of acidity giving a freshness, despite its 24 years.