- BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE
65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
The desire to nurture the Estate’s exceptional qualities has shaped Ornellaia’s philosophy since the beginning.
Ornellaia is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc & Petit Verdot and the faithful expression
of unique terroir developed in harmony with nature.

THE 1997 GROWING SEASON
The start of Spring saw above average temperatures which resulted in an early budding of the vines. The
vegetative cycle slowed down somewhat following an unexpected frost in mid April and subsequent rainful
until the end of the month. From May onwards, the weather became very warm and dry and the Summer
months were particularly hot. The grapes ripened earlier than usual and harvesting was carried out under ideal
conditions during the first part of September. The vintage was exceptional in terms of quality (with grapes that
had matured perfectly with good concentration and well matured tannins), while quantities were somewhat
lower than average due to the small dimensions of the grapes resulting from the dry summer conditions.

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
On harvesting, the grapes were destemmed and crushed before being introduced partially in wooden
fermentors of medium capacity, and partially in stainless steel tanks where alcoholic fermentation took place at
a temperature not exceeding 30°C. Maceration continued for a period of 20-25 days after which the wine was
introduced into new french oak barriques (50%) and second passage barriques (50%) where it completed its
malolactic fermentation. Each grape variety and each vineyard ‘lot’ was aged separately. The wine remained in
barriques in the temperature controlled cellars for a period of 18 months after which time the wine was then
blended and bottled. A further refinement period of 12 months in the bottle followed, prior to release.

Ornellaia decided to carried out an even more rigorous selection of the 1997 vintage (in what was already a
truly great vintage in terms of quality!). This resulted in a production of about 20% less than the previous
vintage.