Notes:

The 2022 Ornellaia is a terrific wine for the year. Dark red-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice all take shape in a mid-weight, pliant Ornellaia that is quite alluring, even in the early going. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot, unusual for the elevated presence of Petit Verdot, which did better than Franc in 2022. The higher percentage of Petit Verdot comes through in the wine's dark-leaning personality and also in the quality of tannins. More than anything else, the 2022 is a reminder of how important a tool blending is, especially in challenging years. I can't wait to see how this ages. The 2022 Ornellaia is clearly among the most successful wines of the vintage.  Vinous/Galloni 96

Tasted a few months after it was bottled, the Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia will be coming to market in March 2025. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. The wine sees 18 months of aging with up to 70% new oak, but the trick, proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi tells me, is drawing from a large group of coopers with different toast levels and forests. "I don't want to make a wine of any one tonnellerie," he says. The oak element is crucial to the identity of this wine that reveals dark fruit, blackberry, sweet spice and cinnamon. Most of the vines were planted in the 1980s, and the average age of the plants is over 20 years old. Fruit comes from many parcels, including Bellaria, Bellaria Nuova, Bellaria Alta, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia and Stallina. Indeed, some 80 wines are made before final blending. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. Petit Verdot plays a slightly larger role in this vintage and was one of the surprise hits of 2022. It serves to elongate the wine and adds to its length. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts.  Wine Advocate 97

A Mediterranean-style wine. Stunning elegance on the nose, with vibrant dried eucalyptus leaves, flowers, restrained brambleberries and hints of black cherries, dried bananas, milk chocolate, cloves and graphite. The palate is full-bodied with elegant tannins and a touch of dust. It’s savory and well packed, with integrated, brilliant freshness and a ripe, fruity finish with a toasty aftertaste of blond tobacco. Try from 2026.  James Suckling 97

Producer: Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is located near Bolgheri on Tuscany’s Mediterranean coast and was founded in 1981. The estate’s flagship red, Ornellaia, was first produced with the 1985 vintage and is classified as Bolgheri DOC Superiore Rosso. The estate focuses primarily on Bordeaux varieties, particularly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, which are planted across vineyard parcels selected according to differences in soil, elevation, and exposure. The proximity of the Mediterranean Sea plays an important role in Bolgheri’s growing conditions, moderating temperatures and contributing to the area’s long ripening season. The 2022 Ornellaia was the final vintage vinified under Estate Director Axel Heinz, who left the estate in early 2023; the new team, led by winemaker Denise Cosentino and production manager Marco Balsimelli, completed the élevage and bottling.

Vineyard: Ornellaia is assembled from individually managed vineyard parcels within the estate rather than from a single vineyard. Bolgheri’s soils are notably heterogeneous, and the estate works with parcels containing combinations of marine sediment, clay, sand, limestone, marl, and volcanic material. Each variety and individual vineyard block is harvested and vinified separately so that the final blend can be assembled after élevage. The 2022 growing season was particularly warm and dry, with prolonged heat and drought reducing yields. Despite these conditions, the finished wine retained the freshness and vibrancy characteristic of Ornellaia. Fruit was harvested by hand into 15-kilogram crates, allowing the grapes to arrive at the winery in small lots for detailed selection. The finished 2022 blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot, with a stated alcohol level of 14.5%.

Winemaking: Harvested clusters were selected by hand on a double sorting table, both before and after destemming, followed by gentle crushing. Ornellaia also uses optical sorting in conjunction with manual selection. Each grape variety and individual vineyard block was fermented separately in stainless-steel and concrete tanks at controlled temperatures of 26–30°C. Alcoholic fermentation lasted approximately one week, followed by around 15 days of maceration, bringing total vat time to roughly three weeks. Malolactic fermentation occurred primarily in oak barrels. The wine was then matured for approximately 18 months in barriques, 70% new oak and 30% once-used barrels. After the first 12 months, the individual components were blended and returned to barrel for another six months. Following bottling, Ornellaia received an additional 12 months of bottle maturation before release. The estate describes the finished 2022 as showing black fruit, vanilla and tobacco, with an expansive palate, substantial tannic structure, a savory character, and a persistent finish.

Food Pairing: Ornellaia’s full body, firm tannins, ripe fruit, and savory character make it particularly well suited to rich meat dishes and earthy flavors. Pair with Bistecca alla Fiorentina, grilled ribeye, rack of lamb, braised short ribs, osso buco, beef Wellington, venison, wild boar ragù, porcini mushrooms, truffle dishes, aged Pecorino, or Parmigiano Reggiano. Grilled and roasted meats are especially effective with the wine’s Cabernet-driven structure, while mushrooms and truffles complement its more savory characteristics.