ORNELLAIA 1994
- VINO DA TAVOLA DI TOSCANA
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% 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 1994 GROWING SEASON
The climate for the 1994 vintage was characterised by an abnormally hot spring with moderate rainfall which
resulted in the early flowering of the Merlot on 15th May. During the Summer months, the temperatures were
high, and the weather was stable with very little rainfall until September when the vineyards experienced minor
amounts of precipitation. The harvest was carried out entirely by hand, and the grapes were collected in
baskets holding no more than 15 Kg. The Merlot was harvested from the 4th to the 15th of September, and
the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were harvested from the 19th of September to the 14th of
October.

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The grapes were destemmed and gently crushed and introduced partly into wooden fermentors and partly into
stainless steel tanks. Maceration continued for a period of 21-30 days, after which the wine was transferred into
French oak barriques where it completed its malolactic fermentation. The wine remained for a period of 15
months in the barriques. 33% of the barriques were of new French oak (mostly from Alliers and Nevers) and
67% were once-used. Then the wine was bottled without filtration and was aged for another 15 months before
release.