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2003 Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Bottle (750ml)
Product Description
"The 2003 Ornellaia (magnum) is another impressive wine. Owing to the heat of the vintage, this is an especially ripe, opulent Ornellaia. The blend contains a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc and less Merlot than is the norm, which helps preserve a measure of freshness. It is also the first vintage where Petit Verdot is part of the blend. Dark, jammy fruit is nicely balanced by a vein of minerality that gives the wine clarity and length, yet the tannins are a touch less finessed than in the finest years, which is consistent with the quality of the vintage. The final blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, aged a total of 18 months in French oak, 70% new. This is without question a very impressive 2003." AG 93Pts for VM Dec 2009
"2003 was a hot vintage all over Europe, and here at Ornellaia only 14mm of rain fell from May through to the beginning of September - with harvest delayed despite the heat until September 10 to ensure phenolic maturity. At 20 years old it shows a surprisingly fresh mint leaf and eucalyptus character. This is a delicious and enticing wine, sappy and full of spice, wtih the rosemary, cumin and turmeric notes of a hot year. Vibrant fruit also, with tannins that are drawn out and elongated. As it opens, the tertiary notes become clearer, with blue cheese, mushroom, soy and salty cracker - doesn't hold up in the glass as well as some of the other vintages, this is a great moment to drink. Highest amount of Cabernet Franc in the blend to date, helps no doubt to give the fresh edge to the ripe fruits. Careful grape sorting was key both before and after destemming, to ensure no shrivelled grapes got through, and the result was 30% lower yield than normal. 70% new oak, Thomas Duroux winemaker." JA 93Pts for IB Sep 2023
Ornellaia is a Bordeaux-inspired blend consisting principally of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In 2003 a small percentage of Petit Verdot was introduced. The use of several varietals gives the winemaking team the luxury of being able to tailor the exact proportion of the blend to the specific strengths of a given vintage. Because the blend tends to vary from year to year in a vertical tasting Ornellaia shows many different facets of its personality." Antonio Galloni for The Wine Advocate Published: Apr 29, 2007
"2003 was a hot vintage all over Europe, and here at Ornellaia only 14mm of rain fell from May through to the beginning of September - with harvest delayed despite the heat until September 10 to ensure phenolic maturity. At 20 years old it shows a surprisingly fresh mint leaf and eucalyptus character. This is a delicious and enticing wine, sappy and full of spice, wtih the rosemary, cumin and turmeric notes of a hot year. Vibrant fruit also, with tannins that are drawn out and elongated. As it opens, the tertiary notes become clearer, with blue cheese, mushroom, soy and salty cracker - doesn't hold up in the glass as well as some of the other vintages, this is a great moment to drink. Highest amount of Cabernet Franc in the blend to date, helps no doubt to give the fresh edge to the ripe fruits. Careful grape sorting was key both before and after destemming, to ensure no shrivelled grapes got through, and the result was 30% lower yield than normal. 70% new oak, Thomas Duroux winemaker." JA 93Pts for IB Sep 2023
Ornellaia is a Bordeaux-inspired blend consisting principally of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In 2003 a small percentage of Petit Verdot was introduced. The use of several varietals gives the winemaking team the luxury of being able to tailor the exact proportion of the blend to the specific strengths of a given vintage. Because the blend tends to vary from year to year in a vertical tasting Ornellaia shows many different facets of its personality." Antonio Galloni for The Wine Advocate Published: Apr 29, 2007