ORNELLAIA 2012 “L’INCANTO”
- BOLGHERI DOC SUPERIORE
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.

WINEMAKER’S TASTING NOTES
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot
“The 2012 growing season was characterised by an abundance of sunny, dry weather; some rain did fall as well, but it
occurred in just the right periods, before the harvest, and helped the vines to cope with the hot, dry conditions. The result
was an even, consistent ripening process that in the end yielded generous, full-volumed wines that are remarkably appealing
and seductive, with an overall character that we like to define with the word Incanto (‘Enchantment’). Ornellaia 2012
appears a deep ruby, and a remarkably beguiling bouquet boasts rich fruit and spices notes. The palate shows well-rounded,
full, and generous, with glossy tannins and a complete absence of any roughness. The 2012 lacks none of the proverbial
concentration that distinguishes Ornellaia’s, great vintages, but this vintage adroitly masks that richness behind an
expansive, magisterial structure, then concludes with a near-endless finish.”
Axel Heinz - May 2014

VINIFICATION AND AGEING
The clusters were hand-picked into 15-kg boxes and then graded and selected by hand on a double sorting
table, before and after destemming, and finally soft-pressed. Each grape variety and single vineyard block was
vinified separately. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks at temperatures between 26-30°C for one
week, followed by 10-15 days of maceration on the skins. The malolactic fermentation took place primarily in
oak barriques, 70% new and 30% once-used. The wine then remained in barriques, in Ornellaia’s temperaturecontrolled cellars for about 18 months.
After the first 12 months of maturation, the wine was assembled and then returned to the barriques for an
additional 6 months. After bottling, the wine aged a further 12 months prior to release.