ORNELLAIA 1998
-BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
The desire to express the exceptional qualities of the estate has been at the basis of the philosophy of
Ornellaia. Ornellaia is a cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, an expression
faithful to a unique terroir that has always been in harmony with nature.
THE CLIMATE OF 1996
Spring 1996 was characterized by averagely low temperatures which delayed flowering. There
the flowering of the Merlot variety took place on 24/25 May while that of the Cabernet took place from 25 to 28 May. The
The weather in the summer was regular with temperatures that were not excessively hot. Around the middle of
In August there were some rains which caused a slowdown in ripening. A remarkable thing
the rise in temperature at the beginning of September contributed to the full completion of the ripening of the
grapes. The harvest took place in the period between 8-12 September for the Merlot variety, and between 29
September and October 9th for Cabernet varieties. The harvest was done by hand making
a careful selection of grapes. The grapes brought to the cellar were in excellent condition.
VINIFICATION AND AGING
The grapes were destemmed and pressed before being introduced partly into medium-capacity wooden vats, and partly
in stainless steel vats where alcoholic fermentation took place at a temperature not exceeding
30°C. The maceration lasted for 25-32 days after which the wine was decanted into barriques of
French oak (60% new barriques, 40% second passage barriques) where the
malolactic fermentation. Each variety and each plot was refined separately. The refinement in
barriques lasted 18 months after which the final assembly was carried out, followed by a further period
bottle aging for 12 months.