ORNELLAIA 2007
- BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE
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.
TASTING NOTES FROM THE WINEMAKER
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
“The 2004 can be counted among the best of Ornellaia and is an excellent example of a classic vintage for the area of
Bolgheri. The ideal conditions of ripening of the grapes have produced a perfect combination of ripeness, complexity of
taste and finesse. The union of the velvety opulence of Merlot with the elegant and complex tannic structure of Cabernet, made
more intense by a small addition of Petit Verdot, it creates a perfect balance.”
Axel Heinz
THE CLIMATE OF 2004
2004 could be defined as a textbook year. The climate was characterized by a winter with
sufficient rainfall with temperatures that were never excessive and a sunny spring dotted with short thunderstorms. The
budding occurred between March 30th and April 10th. At flowering, a high fertility of the plants was highlighted
buds (given the high temperatures of the previous year). The potentially high yield was maintained
within the qualitative limits desired by a decisive and repeated thinning of the grapes. The summer was characterized
from a mild start with moderate temperatures and a sunny and very hot month of August. This conditions
ideals have allowed a homogeneous and regular physiological development of all varieties. In the period of
harvest, the rains did not interrupt the ripening of the grapes, therefore allowing us to have
enough time to establish the perfect harvest date for each plot. The first bunches of Merlot,
coming from the youngest vineyards, they were harvested on September 2nd, but the majority reached the
fully ripe between the 15th and 25th of the same month. The Cabernet Franc harvest followed
immediately and that of Cabernet Sauvignon, which began on September 25th, ended in the first week
of October.
VINIFICATION AND AGING
The grapes were harvested by hand in 15 kg crates. The carefully evaluated bunches were selected with
cure on a double sorting table, before and after destemming. After a soft pressing, each variety and
parcel was vinified separately giving rise to a total of 51 different base wines interpreting the
considerable diversity of the estate's terroirs. After a week's fermentation in steel tanks
stainless at a temperature of 26-30°C followed by a maceration period of 18 days. There
malolactic fermentation took place in oak vats (70% new and 30% second passage).
The refinement in barriques lasted a total of 18 months in a controlled temperature environment at the
cellar of the Tenuta dell'Ornellaia. After the first 12 months of refinement, the assembly was carried out, and the
wine was then reintroduced into the barriques for a further 6 months. The wine was then subjected to
further refinement in the bottle for 12 months before being released on the market.